The enchanter, or, Wonderful story teller : in which is contained a series of adventures, curious, surprising, and uncommon : calculated to amuse, instruct, and improve younger minds

V

CHILDREN'S BOOK
COLLECTION

LIBRARY OF THE *^

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA ^
LOS ANGELES

THE

ENCHANTER;

OR
WONDERFUL STORY TELLER:

A SERIES OF ADVENTURES,

CURIOUS, SURPRISING, AND UNCOMMON;

V

AMUSE, INSTRUCT, AND IMPROVE v>

YOUNGER MINDS.

This Work, to mend the Monls is defign'd ;

To fhew to Youth the Paths of Wrong and Right;
To aid the Judgment and Improve the Mind,

And to convey Inftrudlion with Delight.

: LONDON:

PRINTED FOR WILLIAM LANE,

LEADEN HALL-STREET.
M OCC XCV.

For the Defciiption of the elegant Frontifpiece,
let: Page 20.

THE

ENCHANTER,

OR

WONDERFUL STORY-TELLER.

His TOR Y of the PR INC ESS

AND THE

FAIRY ANGUILETTA.

HOW great foever fortune may raife taofe fh~ fa-
vours, yet there is no ha ppinefs exempt from Uou-
ble. Thofe who have any knowledge of the Faires,
cannot be ignorant, that they, as wife as they feem,
have not yet found out the feci et of«fecuring themfelves
from the misfortune of changing their mnpes fome
days in each month, and afluming that of a beaft, bird,
or fifh.

On thefe fatal days, when they are left a prey to
the cruelty of men, it is often difficult for them to fave
themfelves from the danger to which this hard neceffity
expofes them.

One of them, who transformed herfelf into an eel,
was unluckily taken by fome fifhermen, who put her
prefently into a cittern of water, in the middle of a
fine meadow, where they kept the fifh referved for the
king's table.

Anguiletta, which was the fairy's fiarne, found there
a great many fine fifh, and heard the fifhermen fay
one to another, « That the king made that night
« a great entertainment, for which thofe fifh had be«n
1 carefully picked out/

' A 2 What

4 HISTORY of the PRINCESS HF.BE,

What difmal news was this for the unhappy fairy*
who accufed her fate a thoufand times, and iighed griev-
oufly when fhe got to the bottom, whither fhe went,
that fhe might bewail her misfortune the more private-
ly. The detire 'of avoiding the impending danger,
made her look abroad on all fides, to fee if there was
anyway to efcape, and regain the river, which was but
a fmall diftance from thence; but it proved all in vain,
the ciftern was too deep to hope to get out of it without
afliftance: and her fears increafed when fhe faw the
filhermen who took her, approaching, who put in their
nets; and Anguilctta, by avoiding them, thought only
to defer her death for fome time.

At that inftant the king's youngeft daughter, who
was then walking in the meadow, came to the ciftern to
amufe herfelf with looking at the fifh; the fun, which
was then about fettine, mining in the water, Anguiletta's
fkin, which was ftreaked with gold, appeared fo bright,
that the princefs took notice of it, and finding it very
beautiful, bid thefifhermen take that eel, and give it her.

When the princefs had looked on Anguiletta fome
time, moved with companion, fhe ran to the river-fide,
and threw her in; which unhoped for fervice touched
the fairy's heart with fo lively an acknowledgment,
that fhe appeared that very moment on the top of the
water, and faid to the princefs, * I owe my life to you,

* generous Ploufina, (which was the name of the prin-
cefs) * which is a great happinefs for you. Be not
4 afraid,* (continued me, feeing her going to run away)
4 I am a fairy, and will fatisfy you in th« truth of my
4 words by what I will do for you.'

As they were ufed to fee fairies in thofe days, Plcu-
fma took- courage, and gave great attention to Angui-
letta's agreeable promifes, and was about to make fome
anfwer; when the fairy interrupting her, faid, ' Stay
' till you have received my favours, before you affure
' me of your acknowledgement. Go, young princefs,

* and come here again to-morrow morning; wifh for

* what you would have, and I will as foon accomplifh
4 it; chufe either perfect beauty, a lively piercing wit,

or

And the FAIRY ANGUILETTA. 5

* or vaft riches.' After thefe words, Anguiletta dived
into the water, and left Plouiinaveiy well iatisned with
her adventure.

She refoSved to truft nobody with what had happened
to her; for fhe faid to herfelf, ' If Anguiletta ihould
1 deceive me, my lifters may think I have invented

* this ftory.'

After this fhort reflection fhe returned to her trail,
which conlifted only of a few women, whom fhe found
looking for her.

All that night the young Ploufma was engaged in
the choice fhe was to make; that of beauty had a great
fway with her ; but as fhe had wit enough to defire more,
fhe refolved to afk that favour of the fairy.

She rofe next day with the fun, ran to the meadow,
as fhe faid, to gather flowers to make a garland, to
prefer.t to her mother when fhe was up; but at the
lame time, while her women difperfed themfelves in
the meadow, which was all enamelled, to pick out the
fineft and fweeteft flowers, the young princels ftole to
the river's fide, and found at the place where fhe had
feen the fairy, a pillar of white marble, perfectly fine,
which prefently opened, and the fairy came out of it;
who was no longer a fifth, but a beautiful woman, of a
majeftic air, whofe head-drefs and other apparel were .
covered over with jewels, • I am Anguiletta, (faid (lie

* to the young princefs, who looked at her with great
4 attention) and come to perform my promife; you
' have made choice of wit; you fhall have, from this
' moment, enough to deferve the envy of thofe who

* have hitherto pretended to it.*

The young Floufma, after thefe words, found her-
felf quite different from what fhe was an inftant before;
fhe thanked the fairy with an eloquence, which till then
fhe had never been miflrefs of; the fairy fmiling at the
princefs's amazement to find fo much eafe in exprefling
herfelf.

* I am fo well pleafed, (continued the kind Angui-

' ietta) at the choice you have preferably made tobeau-

4 ty, which people of your age are fo much delighted

A § with

6 HISTORY of the PRINCESS HEBE,

' with, that to recompense you, I willbeftow that beaii-
* ty upon you, which you this day have fo prudently
1 neglected. Come again to-morrow at the fame hour,
" I give you that time tochufe how beautiful you would
« he.'

Then the fairy disappearing, left the young Ploufma
more pleafed than ever: the choice of wit was the effect
of reafon, but the promife of beauty flattered her heart;
and what reaches that, we are generally the moft affect-
ed with.

The young princefs leaving the river's fide, went to
receive the flowers her women prefented her with, of
which fhe made a very agreeable garland, and carried
it to the queen; but how furprifed was that princefs,
the king, and the whole court, when they heard the
young 'Ploufina fpeak with a grace that captivated their

^1IItS*
-~*rhe princefTes, her fitters, ftrove in vain to think her

^efs witty than others; but were forced to yield, even
^o their aftonifhment and admiration.

At night the princefs, pofTefled with the hopes of
being handfome, inftead of going to bed, fat up in her
clofet, which was hung with pictures, which reprefented,
under the figures of goddefTes, all the queens and prin-
cefTes of her hjufe; ani as all thofe pictures were very
fine, fhe hoped they might be aflifting to her in the
choice of a beauty worthy of being afked of the fairy.

A Juno prefented herfelf firft to her eyes, fair, and
fet off with an air fit to reprefent the queen of the gods ;
Pallas and Venus were by her: this piece being the
Judgment of Paris.

The young princefs was very much pleafed with the
pride and ftatelinefs of Pallas; but the beauty of Venus
inclined her there to fix her choice: neverthelefs fhe
pafTed on to. the next, whe.e Pomona leaning on a bed
of tutfs, under trees loaded with the fineft fruits, who
feemed fo charming, that the princefs, who fince the
morning knew every thing, was not furprifed that a
god had afTumed fo many (hapes to ftrive to pieafe her.

Diana

And the FAIRY ANGUILETTA. 7

Diana appeared next, as reprefented by the poets,
a quiver on her back, and a bow in her hand, pur-
iuing a flag, and followed by her nymphs.

Flora appeared a little more careful ; fhe feemed
walking in a parterre, the flowers of which, though ad-
mirable, came not up to her complexion. Next her
were the graces, who looked beautiful and engaging.

But the princefs was moft ftruct with a picture that
hung over the chimney, which was the goddefsof youth;
a charming air appeared through the whole figure; the
hair was of the fine ft white, the turn of her face
admirable, the mouth delicate, the fhape and breafts
perfectly fine and beautiful, and her eyes appeared
more formidable to difturb our reafon, than the ne&ar
fhe was feigned to pour out.

* I will (cried the young princefs, viewing the lovely

* portrait) be as beautiful as Hebe, and, if pomble, as
1 lafting.'

After this, fhe went into her chamber, where ,the
day fhe expe&ed feemed too flow to fecond her impati-
ence; but at length appeared, fhe returned to the river
fide, where the fairy kept her word : and throwing fome
water in Ploufina's face, rendered her as beautiful as
fhe wifhed to be.

The firft effects of the fortunate Ploufina's charms,
was the praifes of fome fea-gods that accompanied the
fairy; fhe faw herfelf in the water, and knew not her-
felf, her filence and amazement being then the only
marks of acknowledgement. * I have fulfilled all your

* delires, (faid the generous Fairy to her) you ought
' to be fatisfied, but I mall not, till I have exceeded

* your deiires by my bounty.'

' I give you v/it and beauty, all the treafures in my

* difpofal, which are inexhauftible; wifh only for what

* riches ycu would have, and you (hall that minute

* obtain them,. Doth for yourfelf, and whoever you
1 think fit.'

The fairy afterwards difappeared, and the young

Ploutina, who was then as handfouie as Hebe, returned

to the palace. All that met her were charmed. They

A 4 toict

8 HISTORY of the PRINCESS HEEE,

told the king of her arrival, who admired her himfeif,.
but knew her only by her voice and wit. She informed
him that a fairy had bcftowed thole invaluable gifts on
' her; and that (he would be called Hebe, becauie fhe
perfectly refembled the picture of that goddefs.

What new grounds oi hatred were here for her filters !
Her wit gave them lefs jealoufy than her beauty now.

Ail the princes who had been captivated by their
charms, no longer balanced to become unfaithful; they
forfook all the beauties of that court, no tears nor re-
proaches could {lay thofe fkklc lovers: and this pro-
ceeding, which at that time appeared fo furpriiing, has
{ince, they fay, become common. Jn ftiort, they ail
burnt for Hebe, whofe heart remained infenfible.

Notwithftanding the hatred of her lifters, flic neglect-
ed nothing that might pleafe them ; (he wiflied for fo
much treafure for the eldeft, for to wifh and give, was
with her the fame) that the greateft monarch of that
country aflced that princefs in marriage, and the wed-
ding was confummated, with great magnificence.

The king, Hebe's father, being inclined to raife a
great army, the wilhes of that fair princels crowned all
his enterprifes with fuccefs; his kingdom and treafury
became thereby very much enriched, which rendered
him a moft formidable prince.

Neverthelefs the divine Hebe, wearied with the hurry
of the court, went tofpend fome months in a pretty box,
fome diflance from the capital town, where {he laid
afide all magnificence, contenting herfeif with what was
gallant, and of a chaiming plainnefs ; nature there only
embellifhed the walks, fince art was not then ufed.

A wood furrounded this pretty retreat, the paths of
which had fomething wild in them, divided by brooks
and little rivulets, which formed natural cafcades,

The young Hebe, walking often in this folitary wood,
one day felt a fecret grief and languifhing, which never
forfook her; {he was ignorant of the caufe of it, and
fat herfeif down on the grafs by the brook-fide, the purl-
in? noife of which entertained her thoughts^

* What

And the FAIRY AWGUTLETTA. g

' What chagrin, (faid fhe to herfelf) difturbs the
excefs of my good fortune? What princefs in the
world enjoys fo perfect a happinefs as myfelf ? I have,
by the fairy's bounty, all 1 wifh tor; I can load all
about me with riches; all that fee me, adore me; and
yet my heart poffefles not quiet thoughts. I cannot
imagine whence proceeds the infupportable difquiet
which hath, for fometime, oppofed the felicity of my
life.'
Thus the young princefs continually reflected, till

at length me refolved to go to the river, to endeavour

to fee Anguiletta.

The fairy, accuftomed to flatter her defires, appeared

en the water, for it was one of thofe days when me was

metamorphofed into a fiftu

* I behold you always with pleafure, young princefs,

* (faid (he to Hebe ;) I know you are come from a very
folitary abode, and you appear to be languifhing, which
•• is no way agreeable to your fortune. What ails you,

* Hebe? Tell me.'

* I ail nothing, (replied the young princefs, in con-
' fufion;) you have heaped too many favours on me,

* to want any thing to complete the happinefs which

* you have beftowed on me.'

' You fain would deceive me, (anfwered the fairy)
' I know very well you. are not content; but what can
*• you defire more? Merit my bounty by a iincere
' confeflion, and I promife to accomplifh your defires.*

* I know not what I would have, (faid the charming
' Hebe ;) yet I am fenfible (continued (he,, louring her

* eyes) want fomething that is abfolurely neceflary to.
' complete my happinefs,*

1 Oh! (cried the fairy) 'tis- love you defire; that

* pafiioriMS only capable of making you think fo fan-
4 taftically as you do.'

' A dangerous difpofit ion ! (continued the young fairy.)
•' You \\ant love, you mall have it; hearts are naturally

* but too much difpofed to it.;, but let me tell you, yoit

* will call on me in vain to put a-n end to- that fatal

A 5. paffion

: 3 HISTORY of the PRINCESS UF.EF.,

' psflion you think fo great a happinefs, my power not
' extending fo far.'

* That matters not, (replied the young princefs
' haftily, blufhing and fmiling at the fame time;) Alas!
' what mould I do with all the riches you have given

• me, if I, in my turn, might not contribute to another's

• felicity?' At this difcourfe the fairy lighed, and
' fhrunk beneath the water.

Hebe returned to herfolitude, with hopes that already
began to calm her troubles; the fairy's menaces fome-
what diflurbed her, but whofe wife reflections were foon
chafed away by others more dangerous, but much more
delightful.

When the came to the little box, fhe found a ineflen-
ger from the king, who fent for her to come to court
the next day. The king and queen received her with
pleafure, and told her that a ftrange prince in his tra-
vels arrived at that court, they had a mind to make an
entertainment for him, to (hew other courts the mag-
nificence of theirs.

The voung Hebe, in a trcuble fhe could not account
for, aiked her fifter at firft if the ftranger was
handfome? * You never faw any thing like him/ (an-
fwered the princefs.) * Defcribe him to me,' (replied
the fair Hebe in diforder.)

' He is fuch as they feign heroes to be, (anfwered

• Ileria ;) his fhape is fine, his air noble, his eyes full of
' fire, the power of which one of the moft infenfible

• ladies of the court has already confefTed : he has a

• very fine head of brown bair, and needs but ftiew
' himfelf to gain ths attention of all that fee him.'

' You fct him off to the beft ad vantage, replied Hebe)

• do you not flatter him ?' ' No, lifter, (anfwered the
4 princefs Ileria, with a figh flie could not reftrain :)
' Alas! you will find him but too worthy of pleafing.*

At night the prince paid the queen a vifit, who pre-
fented him to Hebe, whom he had not feen ; but never
were two hearts fo foon, or fo fenfibly touched, or ever
had more reafon.

The

And the FAIRY ANGUILETTA. n

The converfation was on different fubjefts, but bright
and agreenble, and fupported by all that vivacity the
defire of pleafmg could infpire.

When the queen retired, and the fair Hebe had time
to make feme reflections, fhe was fenfible fhe had loft
that tranquillity which {he knew not the value of.

• O! Anguiletta, (cried fhe, as foon as alone;) what
4 an object you permitted me to behold! Your fage
4 counfels are deftroyed by his prefence. Why gave
' you not me ftrength to relift fuch charms? But per-

* haps their p:)wer exceeds that of a fairy.'

Hebe flept but little that night, fhe rofe very early,
and the care of drcffing her againft the entertainment
at night, amufed her all that day with an attention fhe
was ignorant of till then; fhe being willing to pleafc
for thefirft time, the young ftranger, whofe deures were
the fame, forgot nothing that might render him amiable
int he charming Hebe's eyes.. The princefs Ileria, on
her part, neglecled nothing that might pleafe-; fhe was
rniftrefs of a thoufand beauties, and when Hebe was
abfent, appeared the mod charming perfon in the whole
world; but that princefs's prefence effaced them all.

At night there was a noble entertainment, followed
by a fine ball, and the young ftranger had, without
difpute, taken notice of the magnificence, could he
have regarded any thing but the beautiful Hebe.

After the repaft there was a fine illumination, which
gave as great light in the gardens of the palace, as if it
had been day. They went to take a pleafant walk.
The lovely ftranger gave the queen his hand; but that
honour did not make amends for tie chagrin of being
feparated a moment from his princefs. The trees were
covered with feftoons of flowers, and the lamps which
gave the light were difpofed in fuch a manner as to
reprefent bows and arrows, and other arms of love, and
in fome places formed lines of writing.

They went into a little wood illuminated like the
gardens, where the queen fat herfelf down by an agree-
able fountain, about which there were placed feats of
turfs, adorned with garlands of pinks and rofes. While
A 6 the

12 HISTORY or THE PRINCESS HEBE,

the queen talked with the king, with a great crowd of
courtiers about them, the princefies amufed themfelves
with looking at fome characters the little lamps formed,
the amiable ftranger ftanding then by the charming Hebe,
who calling her eyes en a place where arrows were repre-
fen ted, read aloud thefe words, which were written
under them :

" They are invincible*'

* Such are the darts mot from the divine Hebe's
4 eyes,' (faid the unknown prince, looking on her ten-
derly.') The princefs heard him, and was confufed ;
but her embarraflment feemed to the prince a happy
prefage to his love, he having obferved no anger.

When the diverfions were over, the charms of the
ftranger had too fenfibly touched the heart of Ileria,.
for her not to perceive he loved another. Before Hebe's
coming to court, that prince had rendered her fome
little favours; but iince that, had been altogether taken
up with his tendernefs for Hebe.

In the mean time, this young ftranger endeavoured
by his love to move the heart of the beautiful princefs.
He was in love, amiable, and his fate obliged him to.
love; and the fairy abandoning her to the inclination
of her heart, what excufes were there for her to yield,
who could not Ion g hold out againftheifelf?

The charming ftranger told her he was a king's fon,
and was called Atimir, whofe name was well know to
the princes; for that prince hnd done wonders in a war
between the two kingdoms; and as they had always
been enemies, he weat not by his true name at her fa-
ther's court.

The young princefs, after a converfation, wherein
her heart had fully received the fweet and dangerous-
poifon the fairy had fpoken to her of, permitted Atimer
to difcover to the king his rank, and love; who tranf-
ported with joy, ran to his majcfty, and fpoke to him,
\vith all the ardour his tendernefs could infpire.

The

And the FAIRY ANGUILETTA- 13-

The king conducted him to the queen. Before this
marriage, a lading peace was made, and the beautiful
Hebe was proinifed to her happy lover, as foon as he had
received his father's content. This news being fpread
abroad, the prineefs Ileria felt a grief equal to her jea-
loufy : (he cried and groaned, but was forced to con*
drain herfelf, and conceal her ufelefs grief.

The charming Hebe and Atimir feeing one another
every day, their tendernefs augmented, and at that
happy time, the prineefs could not comprehend why
the fairies, when they would complete the happinefs of
mortals, fhould not ufe all their art and knowledge to
make them love.

An ambalfadorfrom Atimir's father arrived at court,,
who had been expected with great impatience, and
brought with him his content; every thing was pre-
pared for the marriage, and Atimir had nothing to fear;,
a dangerous ftate fur a lover one would preferve faith-
ful!

The prince thus affured of his happinefs, became fome-
whatlefs fenfible: on? day, as he was looking for Hebe
in the gardens of the palace, he heard the voices of fome
women in a Cummer- box of honey fuckles ; and hearing
his name mentioned, which excited his curiofity to know
more, he drew near to them, and heard the princefe
Ileria fay to a perfon that was with her, * I (hail die
*• before that fatal day, my dear Cleonice: the gods will
' not permit me to fee the ungrateful man whom I love,.

* united to the too happy Hebe: my torments are too
' grievous for my life to endure much longer.' * But,,

* madam, (anfwered the damfel) the prince Atimir is
' not unfaithful,, he never made, you any vows; fate

* alone is the caufe of your misfortunes ; and among fo
' many princes that adore you, you may find more
' amiable than him, if a fatal prevention poflefles not

* your heart.'

* Is there any in the whole world fo lovely as him ?
' (replied Ileria.) Poweiful fairy! (added (he, with a

* figh, of all the favours you have beftowed on the for-
*• tunate Hebe, 1 only envy Atimir's love/

This

i£ HISTORY of the PRINCESS HEBE.

This difcourfe of the princefs's was interrupted by
her tears Alas! how happy had fhe bee', had fhe
known how much fhe touched the heart of Atimir?

She ftarted up to go out of the box, and the prince
hid himfelf behind fome trees. The tears and pafiion
of Ileria had foftened kis h«aret which h? looked upon
then only as compafTion, in favour of a beautiful prin-
cefs, whom he, againft his will, had made unhappy.
Afterwards he went and found Hebe, whofe charms Fuf-
pended all other thoughts at that time,

In crofting the gardens to return to the palace, he
found fomething under his feet, which he took up, and
found it to be a fine pocket-book. It was not far off the
box where he heard the convei fation of lieria, therefore' he
feared to f hew the pocket-book, left he mould give Hebe
any knowledge of that adventure ; but hid it from that
princefs, who was then employed in doing fomething to
her head-drefs.

That night Ileria went not to the queen, who was told
fhe was not very well after walking; and Atimir com-
prehended that fhe had a mind tp conceal the diforder
he had feen her in at the box, which thought redoubled
his compaflion.

As foon as he got to his apartment, he opened the
pocket-book he had found, and on the firft leaf found a
cypher of a double A> crowned with myrrh, and fup-
perted by too lovers, one of which feemed to wipe his
eyes, and the other to break his arrows.

The fight of this cypher moved the young prince : he
knew very well what Ileria meant; turned ever the
next leaf to know more, and found thefe words wrot-e
on the back fide :

Almighty love, your charms difplay'd,
Which did my eafy heait invade:
Ah, cruel ! thus your jower to prove,
And bleis another with your love.

The hand, which he knew very well, informed him
it was the princefs Ileria's book : he was touched with

thofe

And the FAIRY ANGUILETTA. 15

thofe tender fentiments, which, far from being fup-
ported by his love and care, were not fo much as fup-
ported by hop?. Thefe verfes put him in mind, that
before Hebe's arrival at the court, he thought Ileria
amiable; he began to look upon himfelf as falfe to that
princefs, and indeed, became too much fo to the charm-
ing Hebe.

However heoppofed the firft emotions; but his heart
was ufed to be fickle, and we feldom are capable of
breaking ourfelves of an ill habit.

He threw Ileria's porket-book upon the table, re-
folved never to look into it; but took it up again in
fpite of himfelf a moment afterwards, and found in it
a thoufand things which completed Ileria's triumph over
the divine Hebe.

A thoufand confufed thoughts pofTefTed the prince's
heart all night ; in the morning he waited on the king,
who appointed the day of his marriage with Hebe.
Atimir anfwered with a confufion, which the king took
for a mark of his love. How hard is it to know the
hearts of men, (ince that confufion was the effe<5l of
his infidelity!

The king was going to the queen, and the prince was
obliged to follow him. He had not been there long,
when the princefs Ileria appearing with a languifhing
look, which the inconftant Atimir knowing too well the
caufe of, rendered her more lovely in his eyes; he
made up to her, talked to her a long while, and inform-
ed her he was not ignorant of her fentiments for him ;
and afterwards explained himfelf to her with a ten-
dernefs, which was an happinefs too great, and but
little expedled by Ileria.

The charming Hebe came in at the fame time; the
fight oi her made the princefs Ileria and the light Atimir
blufh. * How handfome fhe is! (faid Ileria, looking
* on the prince with an emotion fhe could not conceal :)
' fly hence, Sir, or deprive me quite of life.' To which
the prince could make no anfwer.

When Hebe approached with an air and charms which
caft a thoufand reproaches on the ungrateful Alirnir,

ail

»6 HISTORY of the PRINCESS HEBE,

all which he could not fupport, he left the princefs, and
told her he was going to difpatch a courier to the king
his father ; and (he, for her part, being prepoflefred in
his favour, obferved not thofe looks he fometimes caft
on Ileria.

While Ileria triumphed fecretly, the f; ir Hebe was
told by the king and queen, fhe was to be married to
Atimir in three days. But how unworthy was he then
of the fentiments that news created in the heart of the
lovely Hebe?

The prince, though pofleffed with a falfe pafnon, fpent
part of the day with Hebe; and Ikria, who knew of it,
thought fhe fhould have died a thoufand times for jea-
loufy ; her love redoubling whenever me had any the
lea ft hope.

As the prince was going into his apartment at night,
be received a letter from an unknown man, which he
opened inhafte, and found thefe words in it.

* y Yield to a paflion a thoufand times more ftrong

* j|_ than my reafon ; but fince it is in vain to conceal

* thcfe fentiments from you, which chance hath dif-

* covered, come, prince, and know the refolution my

* tender love hath made me take. How happy mould
' I be, if it coft me but my life !'

The perfon that brought this letter,- told him, he was
ordered to conduct him where the princefs Ileria waited
for him. Atimir, without confidering a moment, fol-
lowed him. After a great many turnings and wind-
ings, they came to a finall pavilion full of lights, which
was at the end of a clofe-fhaded alley ; where he found
Ileria with only one of her women, the reft being gone
to walk in the garden*.

lieria was fat on a crimfon cufhion, embroidered
with gold; her drefs, which was both gallant and mag-
nificent, was yellow and filver tiffue; her fine black
hair was dreffed with ribbons of the fame colour as her
clothes, intermixed with diamonds. At the fight of her,
Atimir, afhamed of being falfe, fell on his knees by her,
aod Ileria looking on him with, a tendernefs that fuffici-

•Blip

And the FAIRY ANGUZLETTA. 17

ently betrayed the fentiments of her heart, faid,
Prince, I fent for you, not to perfuade you to break off
your maniage: I know too well 'tis refolved on : but
fincefome words, which you were pleafed to flatter my
misfortune and tendernefs with, do not permit me to
believe you will leave Hebe for me; yet, (continued
fhe, with tears that entirely feduced the heart of
Atimir) I will facrifice to my love, without regret, a
life you have rendered fo painful to me; and- -this
poifon ((hewing a little golden box fhe held in her hand)
(hall fccurc me from the frightful punifhment of
feeing you Hebe's fpoufc!'

* No, beautiful Ileria, (cried the fickle prince,) I

will not be hers ; I will leave her to pleafe you, whom

I love a thoufand times better; and, notwithftanding

my duty and faith fo foiemnly given, I am ready to

conduct you where nothing mail conftrain our love.'

Alas, prince! ((aid Ileria, lighing,) (hall I truft my-

felf with one fo faife ?* * 1 will never be fo to you,

(replied Atimir ;) and the king, your father, who gave

me Hebe, will not refufe me the lovely Ileria, when

fhcfhali be in my power/ ' Let us go then, Atimir,

(faid the princefs, after fome time of iilence,) let us

go where our fate hurries us; whatever 1 may fuffer,

nothing can balance in my heart thefweet pleafure of

being adored by the man I love."

After thefe words they confulted meafures for their

departure; and having no time to lofe, they refolved on

the night following. They parted with a great deal of

reluctance; and, notwithftanding Atimir's oaths, Ileria

yet dreaded Hebe's charms, and was, the remainder of

the night, and the day following, continually poifefTed

with that (ear.

In the mean time the prince gave all neceflary orders
for then fecret departure; and the next night, when,
every body was retired in the palace, went to Ileria*s
pavilion in the garden, where (he waited for him, attended
only by Cleoni.:e. They went away, and with incre«
dible fpeed, got out of the kingdom. In the morning,
this news was made known by a letter Ileria writ to the

queen*

1 8 HISTORY of the PRINCESS HEBE,

queen, arid one writ by Atimir to the king; vv' ich wsve
very moving, and eaiily difccvered that love was the
dictator. 1 be king and queen were in an extreme
rage; but words are not capable to exprefs the piercing
griefs of the unfortunate and charming Hebe: how
great was her defpair, and how many were her tears!
What vows did fhe not offer to the fairy Anguiletta, to
put an end ta thofe cruel calamities fhe had foretold !
Hebe returned in vain to the river-fide ; Anguiletta,
who was as good as her woid, never appeared, but aban-
doned her ^to the moft frightful defpair.- The princefc,
whom the ungrateful Atimir's good fortune had difcard-
cd, took frefh hopes, and their cares and love feemed
new torment to the faithful Hebe.

The king defired her paJTionately to make choice of
a fpoufe, and oftentimes prefled her to it ; but this duty
appeared too cruel to her tendtrnefs; (he refolved to
leave her fathers kingdom, but before her departure,
went once again to find Anguiletta.

Tbe fairy, who this time could not refift th« tears of
the beautiful Hebe, appealed; at the fight of her the
princefs renewed her tears, having no power to fpeak
to her. * Ycu now know, ( frud the fairy) what that
' fatal Inppinefs is, which I was always willing to re-
' fufe you ; but, Hebe, Atimir hns punifhed you but
' too well for ret following niv ndvice; go, and avoid

* this place, which calls into your remembrance all your
' tendernefs; you will find a ver.el by the fea-fide that
' will carry you tw the only place in the world, where
' you may be cured of this unhappy paflion that caufcs
' your defpair; but remember, (added Anguiiena,
' railing her voice,) that when ycur heart* is eafy and

* quiet, you never feek after the fatal prefence of

* Atimir, w' ich \\ill coft you your life.' Hebe wifhed
more than cn^e ro fee that prince once again, whatever
that plea fu re fhould coft her; but fome remains of rea-
fon, and valve cf her honour, made her refolve to ac-
cept of the fairy's propofal. She thanked her for this
laft kindnefs, and went the next day to the fea-fide,
attended by thofe women fhe had the greatcft confi-
dence in,.

There

And the FAHY ANGUILETTA. 19

There fhe found Anguiletta's veflTel, all gilt with
gold, the man's of inlaid work, the fails of lilver and
rofe coloured tifTue, on which were wrote Liberty. The'
failors jackets were of the fame colour as the fails, and
every thing feemed to breath the fweets of Liberty.

The princefs went into a magnificent cabin, the
furniture of which was sdrnirable, and the paintings
perfectly fine. She ftillafflicVd herfelf as much in this
new abode, as in her father's court ; they endeavoured
to divert her by a thoufand pleafures, but the ftate fhe
was in, would not permit her to give any attention to
them.

One day as (he was amufing herfelf in looking on
fome paintings in the cabin, in the place that repre-
fented a landfcape, fhe obferve.1 a young fhepherdefs
with a fmiiing air cutting of nets, to fet feme birds at
liberty that were taken; and fome of thofe little crea-
tures that were efcaped," feemed to fly towards heaven
with a wonderful fwiftnefs. The other paintings feemed
to prefent fuch like fubjects; nothing feemed to fpeak
of love, but all boafted of the charms of liberty; which
made the princefs, in a melancholy tone, fay, * Will
' my heart be always infenfible for fo fweet an hap-
* pinefs, for which my reafon makes fuch vain efforts/

Thus the unhnppy Hebe lived poffefTed with her ten-
dernefs, and at the fame time with the defire of for-
getting it

They had been about a month at fee when one morn-
ing, as the princefs was upon deck, fhe difccrned at a
diftance, a coaft that feemed very pleafant; the trees
were of a furprifing height and beauty, and when they
were nearer, fhe obferved they were full of birds, the
plumage of which was of a bright mining colour; they
made a charming concert, their fongs being fo fweet,
that they feemed 33 if they feared to make too great
a noife.

When they arrived at this fhore, the princefs and
her women landed; where (he no fooner breathed the
air of that ifland, bnt fhe felt a perfect tranquillity in
her breaft, and fuffered herfelf to be furpiifed by

an

so HISTORY of t*e PRINCESS HLEE,

an agreeable fleep, which clofed her eyes for forne
time.

This agreeable country, which to her was unknown,
was the Peaceable Ifland, which the Fairy Anguiletta,
who was a near relation to the prince and governor
there, had endowed for above two thoufand years, with
the happy gift of curing the.moft unfortunate pa {lions,
and aliuring them that gift fhouid ftill continue; but
the difficulty was,, to get to that ifland.

While the beautiiul Hebe enjoyed a repofe fhe had
not tailed the fweets of foriix months before, the prince
of the Peaceable Hland, was taking the air in that wood
which bordered by the fea fide, i» his chariot, drawn
by four white young elephants, and attended by his
court.

There he faw the princefs afleep: her beauty fur-
prifedhim. He alighted out of his chariot with a preci-
pitation and vivacity he never felt till then. He took
at that fight all the love the charms of Hebe were wor-
thy of infpiring. The noife awakened her, and fhe
opg&£l; fter eyes, di (covered a thouiaud new beauties
to the young prince. He was about the fame age of
Hebe, which was nineteen ; his beauty was perfect; a
thoufand graces were in all his aclions; his fh ape ex-
traordinary, and his hair, which hung in large ringlets
down to the middle of his back, was of the fame colour
as Hebe's. His habit was made of feathers, of a thou-
fand different colours; he had it over a kind of cloak,
that trailed on the ground, made of fwans feathers,
buckled on the (houldeis by very fine diamonds. His
belt was all of diamonds, on which hung, by chains of
gold, a fmall fabre, covered over with rubies. He had
a kind of head piece, made of feathers like the reft, on
which was butioned, by a very large diamond, fome
heron feathers, which fet it off with great fplendor.

This prince was the firft object that prefented itfelf
to the young princefs when fhe awakened. He appear-
ed to her worthy of her regard; and it was the fiift
time in all her life that ever fhe looked on any other
but Atimir with any attention*.

«- Every

And the FAIRY AVGUILETTA. 21

* Every thing afTures me, (faid the prince of the

Peaceable Ifland to the princefs,) thart you are the

divine Hebe: alas! who befides could boaft fo many

charms?' * Who, Sir, could fo foon inform you,

(anfwered the young princefs, getting up, and blufh-

ing at the fame time,) that I was in this ifland?*

A powerful fairy, (replied the young king) who,

willing to make me the happieft of men, and this

country rnoft fortunate, promifed me to conduct you

here, and hath permitted me yet more glorious hopes.

But I am very feniible, (added he, fighing,) that my

fate depends more upon your bounty than hers.'

After thefe words, to which me anfwered with a great

deal of wit, the prince deliied her to go into his chariot,

which mould carry her to the palace, and out of refpeft

went not into it himfelf: but as fhe underftood by his

difcourfe, and by his train, that he was the king of that

ifle, fhe obliged him to fit by her.

Never any thing appeared fo beautiful in one chariot;
all the prince's court at that fight could not forbear their
applaufcs. While they were on the way, the young
prince entertained Hebe with a great deal of wit and
tendernefs, and the princefs, fatiified to find her heart
at eafe, refumed all her vivacity.

They arrived at the palace, which was fome diftance
from the fea, and built all of Ivory, and covered with
agate, all the avenues to which were encompafled with
fine canals.

The prince's guards were drawn out in all the courts ;
in the firft they were cloathed in yellow feathers, with
head-pieces, bows and arrows, all of filver; in the fr-
cond, they were cloathed in feathers of a fire-colour, with
gilt labres, adorned with torquoifes. When they came
into the third court, the guards were cloathed in white
feathers, holding in their hands gilded and painted half
pikes, adorned with garlands of flowers; for in that
country they never were at war, therefore bore no ter-
rible arms.

The prince alighted out of his chariot, and led, the
amiable Hebe into a magnificent apartment. The

court

22 HISTORY of the PRINCESS HEBE,

court was numerous, the ladies beautiful, (he men gal-
lant and handfome: and though all the inhabitants of
the country were cloathed with feathers, the art of
forming them in {hades made them very agreeable.

That night the prince of the Peaceable Jflarid made
a great entertainment for the beautiful Hebe, which
was followed by a concert of fweet flutes, lutes, theor-
boes and harpfichords ; for in that country they loved
not noify inftruments. The fymphony was very fine;
and when it had lafted fometime, a.delicate fine voice
fung fome words which declared the prince's paffion,
while he gazed on Hebe, to perfuade her thofe words
exprefled his thoughts.

As it was late when the naufic left off, the prince led
the princefs into the apartment appointed for her, which
was the fineft in the palace ; there fhe found a great
number of ladies, whom the prince had named to have
the honour to be her attendants.

The prince left the beautiful Hebe, and was the moft
in love of all men. They put her to bed ; the ladies
retired, and only left in the chamber thofe fhe brought
along with her. « Who could believe it, (faid fhe to
' them, when fhe was at liberty,) my heart is at peace !
' What God hath calmed my troubles? I love Atimir
' no longer; I can think, without dying with grief,
' that he is, perhaps, Ileria's fpoufs. Js not ail I fee a
' dream ? No, (faid fhe, recovering herfelf a little,)

• my dreams ufed not to be fo quiet/ In fhort, fhe
returned Anguiletta a thoufand thanks, and then went
to fleep.

The next morning when fhe awakened, as fhe opened
the bed -curtains, the fairy appeared to her with a fmiling
air, which (he had never obferved in her face fince that
fatal day fhe afked for love.

* At laft J have happily brought you hither (faid the
'• amiable fairy to her) your heart is free, therefore
' will be content. I have cured you of a cruel paffion ;
' but, Hebe, can I be allured that thefe terrible tor-

• ments, to which you have been expofed, will make

3 you

And the FAIRY ANGUIL ETTA. 23

* you always avoid the fight of the ungrateful Atimir?'

The young princefs prornifed the fairy every thing,
and fwore bothagainft love and her falfe lovers. * Re-
1 member your promifes (replied Anguiletta, with an
' air that left an impreflion of refpecl) you will perifti

* with Atimir, if ever you feek to fee him again. But

* every thing here ought to remove a defire fo fatal to

* your life.'

* I will no longer conceal from you what I have re-

* folved in your favour : the prince of this ifland is
' my relation ; I protect his perfon and empire : he is

* young and amiable, and no prince in the world is
' more worthy of being your hufband. Reign then,
' beautiful Hebe, in his heart and kingdom : the king,
' your father, gives his confent; I was yeflerday at his

* palace, and acquainted him, and the queen, your
' mother, with the prefent ftate of your fortune, which

* they have put abfolutely under my care.'

The princefs had a great rnind to have alked the
fairy about Ileria and Atimir; but durft not, after
fo many favours, run the hazard of difpleafing her ;
therefoie me only made ufe of all the wit me had be-
ftowed on her to thank her.

Then fomebody coming into the room, the fairy dif-
appeared. As foon as Hebe was up, twelve children,
clothed like cupids, brought from the prince twelve
bafkets of cryftal, full of the moft agreeable flowers,
which only garnimed fome jewels of a wonderful beau-
ty. In the firft bafket that was prefented to her, this
billet was found :

To the Divine HEBE.

• XTESTERDAY I fwore a thoufand times how I
' JL loved ; the fweet remembrance of which oaths
' will ever remain, fince they were dictated by love,

* and are fupported by your charms.'

After what the fairy had ordered the princefs, (he
comprehended that me ought to accept of her new lover,

§£ HISTORY of the P&INCESS HESE,

as of a prince that was fhortly to be her hufband.

She received the little loves very favourably; and
had hardly difmifTed them, when four-and twenty
dwarfs, fantaftically, but magnificently clothed, appeared
loaded with new prefents, that confifted of habits all of
feathers: the colours and work of which, with jewels,
were fo fine, that the princefs owned (he had never feen
any thing fo gallant.

She made choice of a rofe colour to wear that day;
her head-drefs was adorned with a plume of feathers
of the fame colour, and ihe appeared fo charming with
this new ornament, that the prince of the Peaceabl-e
Ifland, who came to fee her when (he was dreffed, felt
his paffion redouble. All the court crowded to admire
the princefs. At night the prince propofed to the beau-
tiful Hebe to walk in the gardens, which were admira-
ble, where the prince told Hebe, that the fairy had fed
him for four years with the hopes of her arrival in the
Peaceable Jfland: * but fome time after (added the

* prince) when I prefled her on her promifes, fhe ap-
' peared fad, told me, the princefs is defigned by the
4 king, her father, for another, and not for thee: but if

* my knowledge deceives me not, fhe will not be that
' prince's, I will tell you more another time.'

* Some months after, the fairy came again : Fortune

* favours you, (faid fhe to me) the prince that was to
' have been, will not be Hebe's fpouie; and in a little
' time you will fee here the mcft beautiful princefs
' in the world.'

* Indeed, (replied Hebe, blufhing,) I was to have

* been married to the fon of a neighbouring king; but

* after a great many events, the love he bcre my filler

* made him refolve to go away with her.*

The prince of the Peaceable Ifland faid a thoufand
tender things to the beautiful Hebe on his happy fate,
which according with what the fairy had told him, had
brdught her into this ifle; and hearkened to him with
fo much the more pleafure, becaufe this difcourfe inter-
rupted the recital of her adventures; fhe feared fhe

mould

And the FAIRY ANGUILETTA. 25

fhnuld not be able to fpeak of her faithlcfs lover, without
difcovering the tendernefs flie had had for him.

The prince conduced Hebe into a grotto curioufly
adorned and embellifhed with the fpoutin^s of water.

The bottom of the grotto was dark ; there were a great,
number of niches with llatutes, reprefenting nymphs
and fhepherds, which ware hard to be diftinguimed.

When the princefs had been there fome time, (he
heard a delightful found of inftruments. A noble
illumination that appeared all on a fudclen, difcovered
to her, that part or' thole flatutes formed that concert ;
when the others came out, and danced line and gallant
dances, intermixed with tender and agreeable ibngs;
all the performers in this divertion being placed at the
bottom of the grotto, furprifed the princefs more agree-
ably.

After the dance, favages came in, and ferved up a
itately collation under an arbour of jcfiamins and
orange-flowers.

The entertainment was juft over, when all on $ fud-
dcn the Fairy Anguiletta appeared in the air, in a
chariot drawn by fouriwans; and, defcending, pro-
nounced to the prince of the Peaceable Ifhnd a charm-
ing happinefs, in telling him fhe would have him many
Hebe, and withal, that the princefs had promifed her to
confent.

The prince* tranfported with joy, doubted at firft to
whom he fhould return his firft thanks, whether to Hebe
or Anguiletta; and though joy permits not of touching
expreflions like grief, he acquitted himfelf, however,
with a great deal of wit, and a good grace.

The fairy had no mind to l^avethe prince and princefs
till the day appointed for their marriage, which was to
be in three days; when fhe made thembcfh coftly pie*
lents, and went with them, who were followed by ali
the court, and a great many ot' the inhabitants of the
ifle, to thetemple or' Hymen., which was made of olive
branches and palms interlaced together, \vhieh, by the
feiry's power, never faded.

B Hvmcr\

26 HISTORY of the PRINCESS HEEE,

Hymen was there reprefented by a ftatute of white
marble, crowned with rjfes, and raifed on an altar
adorned only with flowers, and fuppcrted by a Cupid
of an extraordinary beauty, who, with a fmiling air,
prefented him with a crown of myrtle.

Anguiletta, who built this temple, was willing every
thing mould be plain, to fhew that love alone cm ren-
der marriage happy. The difficulty is not to unite
them together, but as the miracle worthy of a fairy, to
join them together for ever in thf. Peaceable I (land ;
which, contrary to the cuft-.nris of other countries, can
make man and wife l.-vingand conftant.

In this temple of Hvmen the beautiful Hebe, led by
Anguiletta, plighted her faith to the prince of the
Peaceable Ifland, and received his with pleafure. She
had not that involuntary inclination for him that fhe
feit for Atimir; but her heart, then exempt from paf-
iion, accepted of that fpoufe by the fairy's order, as a
prince worthy of her by his perfon, and much more by
his love. This marriage was celebrated by a thoufand
gallant entertainments, and Hebe lived happy with a
prince th?t adored her.

In the mean time, the king, Hebe's father, received
ambafladors from Atimir, who afked leave to marry the
princefs Ileria (for his father was dead, and he left ab-
folute mailer of his kingdom) which was granted with
joy.

After this marriage, the queen Ileria afked, by new
ambaffadors, leave of the king her father, and queen
her mother, to come to their court, to beg pardon for
a fault which love had made her commit, and for which
Atimir's merit was a fufficient excufe.

The king confented, and Atimir and his queen were
welcomed on their arrival, with all the demonftrations
of jov poflible.

A little after, the beautiful Hebe and her charming
fpoufe fent their ambaffadors to the king and queen,
with the news of their nuptials, which Anguiletta had
informed them of before; yet, notwirhftanding, they
were not received with lefs pleafure and magnificence.

Atimir

And the FAIRY ANGUILETTA. 27

Atimir was then with the icing when they prefented
themfelves the h'rft time before him; the lovely image
of Hebe was not to be abfolutely' blotted out of an
heart over which fhe had fo great a fway. Atimir
could not forbear fighing when he heard of the hap-
pincfa of the prince of the Peaceable Ifland ; he accu-
ied Hebe a thouland times of being inconftant, without
thinking at the fame time of the caufe he had given
her.

When the ambafTadors cf the prince of the Peaceable
Ifland returned crowned with honours, and loaded with
prefents, they told their piincefs the great joy the king
and queen exprefied at their happy marriage.

But withal, (Oh ! too iincere relation !) they ac-
quainted Hebe, that the princefs Ileria and Atimir were
at court. Thefe names, which were fo dangerous to theii
repofe, rendered her again uneafy ; fhe was then unhap-
py, but mortals cannot long preferve a certain felicity.

She was not able to refift her impatience to return to
her father's court; which was, as ihe faid, to fee the
queen her mother: nay, fhe had even perfuaded her-
felf into a belief of it ; for how often do they who love
deceive themfelves in their own thoughts?

Notwithftanding the fairy's threats to oblige her to
avoid the fight of Atimir, fhe propofed that journey to
the prince of the Peaceable Ifland, who at firft refufed
her, for Anguiletta had bid him not let her ftir out of
hiskindom; but fhe continued her entreaties, and as
he adored her, and knew nothing of her paflion for
Atimir, he could not deny any thing to one he loved fo
dear.

He thinking to pleafe the beautiful Hebe by a blind
complaifance, gave orders for their departure; and
never was feen more magnificence than in their equi-
page, and in their fhips.

The wife Anguiletta, provoked at the little regard
{hewn by Hebe and the prince to her orders, abandoned
them to their fate, and never appeared to give them
advice, which they had made fo little ufe of.
Ba

^8 HISTORY 36 the PRINCESS H'F.S;

For the prince and princefs, they, after a plcafc. r
Voyage', arrived at the court of Hebe's father; whe; .
the king and queen's joy to fee that fine princefs again
was very great. They \vtre changed with the prince
of the Peaceable Ifland, and celebrated their arrival by
great rejoicings throughout the whole kingdom; only
Ileria groaned when fhe heard of Hebe's return. And
it was decreed, that when they mould fee one another
again, no mention fhould be made of xvhat was paft.

Atimir afked to fee Hebe, and feenied to Ileria to
defire it with toorreat an ardour.

The princefs Hebe blufhed when he cnme into her
chamber; they were both in a confulion, that all their
\vit \vas not fufficienl to extricate them out of. The
king, who was then prefent, cbferved ft, and joining in
their conversation, to make this vifit the fhorter, pro-
pofed walking in the gardens of the palace, and as
Atiniir durft not cffer his hand to Hebe, he made her
onlv a refpeclful bow, and fo retired.

But what were the fentiments and ideas of his heart ?
All that lively and tender paffion he had for Hebe, re-
k-indled in his bofom; he hated Ileria and himfelf, and
never was infidelity attended with mure repentance and
grief.

At night he waited on the queen, to whom Hebe w-is
paying a vifit: and not fatisfied with looking at her,
endeavoured to fpcak to her, which fhe always avoided.;
but ftill his eyes informed her too much for her quiet:
he continued to fhew, by all his actions, that hers had
again refumed their em pi re over him.

Hebe's heart was alarmed ; Atimir always appeared
to her too lovely ; fhe refolved to fly him, with as much
care as he endeavoured to find out her. She never fpoke
to him, but before the queen, and then never but when
fhe could not abfoiutelydifpenfe with it ; and was deter-
mined to perfuade the prince, her hufband, to return
foon to their own dominions: but how difficult a thing
ic is to leave what we love !

One evening as fhe was engaged in thefe thoughts,
and .had fhut herfelf up in her clofet, that fhe might

think

And the FAIRY ANGUILETTA. 29

think more at her liberty, (he found in her pocket a
billet, that had been put into it unknown to her, which
fhe opened, and knew to be Atimir's hand, which gave
her inexpreffible trouble; (he thought not to read it,
but her heart over-ruled her reafon, fhe looked it <T'^F,
and found thefe words in it.

FAIREST HEBE,

are too infenfible of my violent paflion, and
me with too much indifference: but fince
your heart has, in its- turn bsen falfe, and his fol-

* lowed but too ctofe the example of mine, let it imitate
' it in its return. Forgive me ray princefs, and p~r-
' mit me to refume thofe chains I once wore, when

* we partoak of each other's painssnd pleafurcs.*

4 Oh, cruel! (cried the piincefs) what hive I done,
« that you fhould endeavour to rekindle 'in my foul a

* tendernefs that has caufed ms fo much forrow?* And
then her tears interrupted her difcourfe.

In the mean time Jieria languished under a jealoufy
too juftly grounded, and Atmiir, hurried on by his love,
was unable to reftrain himjelf ;my longer. The prince
of the Peaceable Ifhn I began to dilcover his pafiion
for Hebe; bat was wilHng to examine farther into
Atimir's conduil, before he fpoke ofit to the princefs,
whom he adored conllantly, and whom he was afraid of
informing of that prince's love.

Some days after the receipt of this letter, there were
appointed courfes, when all the princes, and fprjghtly
youths of the court were to break lances in honour of
'the hdies.

The king and queen honoured this diverfion with
their preferice. The beautiful Heba and the princefs
Ileria were to bsftow the prizes; which were a fword, the
handle and fcabbard of which were covered with dia-
monds ; and a bracelet of moft curious diamonds. "

All the knights named for the courfes appeared with

an extraordinary magnificence, mounted on very fine

• B 3 ho: fes

30 HISTORY of the PRINCESS HEEE,

horfes, bearing the colour*, their miftreiTes delighted in,
with devices on their ihieids agreeable to the fenti-
zuents of their hearts.

The prince of the Peaceable Iflrmd was in a coftly
drefs, mounted on a moil beautiful dappled horfe, with
a fine long black tafl and main: in all his equipage the
rcfe-colour appeared, which Hebe very much loved ; and
on his head-piece, which was very light, their waved a
plume of feathers oi the fr.tne colour. He gained the
applaufe of all the fpedhtors, and appeared fo handfome
in his bright armour, that Hebe fecretiy lenroached
herfelf a thoufand times for the fentiments fhe had the
misfortune to have for another. His train was numer-
ous, clothed after the manner of their own country,
very gallant. and (lately. An efquire carried his
ihield, on which was this device, an heart pierced with
?n"arrtiw, and a cupid (hoc ting a great numbe;, to en-
deavcur to make frefli wounds; but ali, except the
iirft, feemed to have been drawn in vain; thefe words
were under-written:

1 I fear no ether.*

The colours and device of the prince of the
Peaceab.'c Ifland foon difcovercd that he was Hebe's
knight, and that as fuch he w;,uld enter the lifts. Every
body was taken up with his magnificence, when Atimir
came forward, mounted on a black fiery Heed, that ap-
peared very (lately. His colour that day was dark
green, intermixed neither with gold, filver, nor jewels,
only i.e had a plume of rofe-coloured feathers on his
head piece; and the other afFedled a great careleflhefs
in his apparel; he had fo graceful a mien, and ma-
waged his horfe fo well, and withal had Co lofty an air,
that nobody could forbear looking at him . on his fhield,
which he carried hirnielf, appeared a love, who trampled
his chains under his feet, and bound himielf with others
more weighty, with thefe words:

' Worthy only of me.'

Atimii's

And the FAIRY ANGUILSTTA. 31

Atimir's train confifted of the principle lords of his
court, who were cioathed in dark green, laced with
iiiver, and covered over wit i jewels; and though they
were all handfome and well-lnaped, yet it was eafy to
judge by that prince's air, he was born to command then;/.

The different emotions the light cf this prince pro-
duced in the hearts of Hebe and licria, and the je^Ioufy
the prince of the Peaceable Ifbnd conceived, \\hcn he
fau- the plume on Atimir's caique of the fame colour
with his own, are nrt to beexpreifed ; the reading of the
device compleated his rage, the effects of which he then
ftirled till a better opportunity.

The king and queen foon took notice, both of. the
boldnefs and imprudence of Atimir, and were very
angry ; but it was not then a time to fhew it. The
courfes began with the foundings of trumpets, and
rended the air with their echoes: w'uich were fine, and
all the knights fhewed their addrefs, and the prince of
the Peaceable Jfland, though paffefTed with an outrage-
ous jealoufy, fignalized himfeif, and was proclaimed
conqueror.

Atimir, who knew that the firft prize was to be given
by Ileria, never difputed the victory with the prince of
the Peaceable Ifland : he was declared victor by the
judges of the field, and advanced gracefully1, with the
acclamations and praife^ of all the fpeetaiors, to the
place where the king and pripceffes fat, to receive. the
bracelet; which the princefs Ileria pidented to him,
and he took with a good grace; then paying hisrefpecls
to the king, queen, and princefs, he returned to the lifts.

T.he melancholy Ileria obferving but too well the
difdain the light A'imir fhewed for the prize (he, was
to give, fighed grievoufly; and the beautiful Hebe felt
in her breaft a fecret joy, which all her reafon could
not re lift.

The fecond courfe began with the fame fuccefs as the
firft, wherein the prince of the Peaceable Ifland, ani-
mated by the fight of Hebe, did wonders, and was
declared victor again? when Atimir, vexed to be a
Ipectator. of his rival's glory, and, flattered with the
B 4 thought

3'2 HISTORY of the PRINCESS H£EE,

•thought of receiving the prize from Hebe's hand, went
and prefented himielf at the end of the lifts.

The two rivals looked en each- other fcornfully; ar,d
that courie between two fuch great princes was cele-
brated by the new trouble it cauied the two princeiies.
The princes ran one againft the other with equal advan-
tage, and broke their lances \viihcut any diforder. The
(houts of the fpe&ators redoubled, and they without
giving their huvks time to breathe, returned to take
treih lances, and ran with the famefuccefs and addrrfs
as at hrft. The kir.gr who feared left fortune mould de-
clare one of them vtch.rs, fent prefently to tell them,
that they ought to be fatisfied «i?h the glory they had
gained, and. to delirethem to put an end to the courfes.

When the pcrfon the king fent, came up to them, they
heard him with a great deal of impatience, efpecially
Atimir; who taking upon him to fpcak, faid, ' Go tell

• the king, 1 fhould be unworthy of the honour he does
« me, in concerning himielf with my glory, if I Ihculd
' fuffer a conqueror.' * Let us fee then (faidtheprir.ee

• of the Peaceable Ifland, fpurring on his hcrfe with
' great ardour,) v hich me; its m oft the kings cfteem,
' and the favours of fortune.

The mefienger was not returned to the king, befcre
the two rivals, urged on by i'entimenrs more prevalent
than the prize, began the courfe ; wherein fortune fa-
voured the ?ud?cious Alimir, and pronounced him
viclor; the prince of fhe Peaceable Ilhnd's horfe»
wearied with the courfes he had made, falling down,
and throwing his matter en the fand: how great was
Atimir's j:y, and that unfortunate prince's rage!
•He got up quickly, and going up to his rival before any
came to them, ' You have overcome me in fports,

* Atimir, (faid he, with an air fufficient to fhew his

* paffion;) but with my fword I will decide our dif-
' lerences.' * I confent, (replied the fiery Atimir,)
' and will meet you to-morrow at fun-rife, in the wood,
•' at the end of the palace-gardens/ As they had made
rn end ofthefe words, the judges of the field came up
to them; whereupon they difguifed their irutual rage,
left the kin? mould prevent their deiigns.

The

And the FAIRY ANGUILETTA. 33

The prince of the Peaceable Ifhnd mounted his bode
again, and rid with all fpeed to leave the fatal p'_3ce,
where Atimir had vanquifhed him. la the mean time
that prince went to receive the pi ize of omfe from He be,
who prefented it to him with a confuiion th;tt difcovercd
the different commotions ol her foul; and Atimir, in
taking it, committed all the extravagance of a man very
much in love.

The king and queen, who had their eyes fixed on
them, obferving him all the time, and returned to their
palace very much diffatisfied with the ending of that
day. Atimii, pofTeffed with his paffion, went out ol
the lifts without any attendants; and Ileria, outrage-
ous with grief and jealoufy, went back to her apart-
ments.

Various then were the thoughts of Hebe: ' I mud
4 go hence, (faid fhe to herfelf,) iince no other remedy
4 can be found to prevent the misfortunes that I fore-

• fee.'

At the fame time the king and queen refolvcd to de-
fiie Atimir to go home, to avoid the new troubles his
love might create ; which fame propofition they like-
wife determined to make to the prince of the Peace-
able ICand, that neither party might take umbrage
thereat But the princes hafty rcfolutions prevented
this prudent forefight ; for while they deliberated 6n
their departure, the others prepared for the combat.

As foon as Hebe came back from the courfes, fhe
afked for the prince, her fpoufe, who they told her was
in the gardens of the palace, very melancholy, and will-
ing to be alone. The beautiful H?fbe thought it her
duty to go and comfort him after his Hl-forUine; fo,
without fraying in her apartment ; fire went into the
gardens, followed by fome of her women*

She was looking for the prince, when entering into n.
fhady walk, fhe efpied the amorous Atimir, who tranf-
ported with his paffion, and regarding nothing elfc, felt
on his knees fome diftance from the princefs, and, dyaw-
ii>g the fword he that day received from hen, * Hear

* me, charming Hebe, (hid he,) or let me die at your
.•feet.' •

" B5 The

34 HISTORY of the PaiNCEss HEBE,

The women, frightened at this action of the prince,
threw themfelves upon him, endeavouring to take away
his fword, which he turned with great rage on the
other fide. Hebe, the unhappy Hebe, was tor flying :
but how great muft our reaion be, that can force us
from what we love !

The deiire of keeping this adventure a fecret, with-
her defign to entreat Atimir to ftrive to cure a paffion
fo fatal to them both, and the cumpaffion fo moving an
object created, all contributed to flay the pnncefs,
uho made up to the prince; her piefence fufpended his
fury; his {word he let fall at her feet, and never more
trouble, love, and grief,, appeared at once in fo fhort a
converfation.

Wordsare not tender enough toexprefs what thefe two
unhappy lovers then endured: Hebe, uneafy to fee
herfelf with Atimir, and fo nigh the prince of the Peace-
able Jfland, made a great effort on herfelf to leave him,
charging him never to fee her more. How cruel was
this command! .Had not Atimir called to mind the en-
gagement he.lay under to. fight the. prince of the Peace-
able Ifland, he had a thoufand times turned the fword
upon himfelf; but alas! he chofe rather to die, reveng-
ing himfelf on his rival.

The fair Hebe retired inftantly to her apartment,
the more 'fecurely to avoid the preftnce of Atimir:
' Mercilefs Fairy, (cried fhe,) you only told me of
' death, if ever 1 law this unhappy prince; but now I
' feel torments a , thoufand times more grievous-!'
Then fending to feek for the prince in the gardens and'
the palace, and not rinding him, her unealinefs increa#-
ed; they fought him all the night to no purpofe ; for he
hid himfelf in a hut in the midft of the wood, that he
might not be* prevented from meeting at the place
appointed, which he repaired to at fun-rife, wereAiimir
arrived foon' after. Thefe two rivals, impatient to re-
venge themfelves, and to gain the victory, drew their
f words ; which was the firrt time the prince of the Peace-
able Ifland ever made ufe of his, fince there never was
any war in his dominions.

Nevertheless
6

And the FAIRY ANGUILETTA. 35

Neverthelefs, he appeared not the lefs formidable
enemy to Atimir; for though he had but little experi-
ence, he had courage, was in love, and fought like a
man that defpifed death; while Atimir maintained the
great reputation he had fo worthily gained. .

Thcfe two princes were animnted by pafilons too
much different, not to render the end of this duel fatal,
for after they had a long time maintained an equal ad-
vantage, they made too fuch furious thrufts at each
other, that both fell on the grafs, which they died with
their blood.

The prince of the Peaceable Ifland fainted away in-
ftantly with the lofs of his; and Atimir, mortally wound-
ed, pronounced the name of Hebe as he expired.

Some of thofe perfons who were fent to look for the
prince of the i'eaceabie Ifland, arrived at that fatal
place, and were feized with horror at fo difmal a fight.

The princefs Hebe, drawn by her difquiet, was going
into the gardens, xvhen hearing the fhrieks of people
who pronounced confufedly the names of the two prin-
ces, fhe hereupon ran and found thofe fo fad and dif-
mal objects: fhe thought that the prince her hufband
was dead as well as Atimir, who at that time were both
alike to her; when, after having looked fome time on
thofe unhappy princes, fhe cried out dolefully, ' Ye

* precious lives, which were facrificed for me, I will re-

* venge you by the lofs of my own.' After thefe words
fhe fell on the fstal fword Atimir received from her,,
and had pierced her bres ft before the people .who we: e
amazed at this cruel adventure), could hinder her.

Jufl as fhe expired, the Fairy Anguiletta ap eared,
who, touched with fo many misfortunes which fhe
had oppcfed with. a»H her power,. accufed fate, and could
not forbear flredding tears. Then thinking of afnfting
the prince of the eaceable I (land, whom. fhe knew was
notiead, fhe cured him of his wounds, and tranfported
him in Unfitly into his own ifle; where, by the wonder-
ful gift fhe had beftowed on it, that prince was confoled
for the lofs he had.fuftained, and forgot his paflion for
Hebe..

B6 The.

36 THE ROYAL RAM,

The king and queen, who had not the like affifhnce,
gave themfelves up entirely to grief, which was only to
be worn off by time. And as for Ile.ia, her de-fpair
rarnot be exprefied, who was always both faithful to
her crief, and the ungrateful Atimir.

When Anguiletta had transported the prince of the
Peaceable Ifland into his own dominions, fhe touched
with her wand the unfortunate remains of the lovely
Atimir and the beautiful Hebe, \vho in ?.n inftnnt were
changed into two trees of an admirable beauty, which
the Fairy named Charms, to preferve for ever the re-
membrance of thofe which fh one fo bright in thefe un-
happy, lovers.

THE

ROYAL R A

WISHES.

IN thofe happ? days when Fairies were common, there
lived a king who had three beautiful young daugh-
ters, who were all deferving; but the youngeft whofe
name was -Miranda, being the moft amiable, and her
Cither's favourite, was allowed as many clothe.? in a
roonth, as her lifters had in a year; but fhe being fo
generous as to let them partake with her, it made no
difference am: ngft them.

The king having had neighbours, who, tired with a
lone peace, c-bliged him to raife an army, and to take
the field, left his daughters with a governante in a caftle,

where

OR THE WISHES. 37

where they might hear news from him every day; and
when he had fubdued his enemies, and drove them out of
his dominions, came to the caftle to fee his Miranda, whom
he doated on. The three princelTes befpoke thcmieivcs
every one a robe of iattin; the eldeft's was green,
adorned with emeralds; the fecond's was blue, let off
with turquoifes; and the younge 's white, bedecked
with diamonds. And in thefe drefTes they went to
meet the king, and to congratulate him >.n his victories.
When he faw them fa beautiful and gay, he embraced
them all tenderly, but efpecially Miranda. After a
magnificent entertainment that was ferved up, the king,
who loved to draw confequenccs from the moft trivial
matters, a fked the eldeft, why me put on, a green gown ?
Sir, (faid fhe,) after hearing of your- great deeds, I
thoughtgreen might exprefs my joy, and the hopes of
your return.' * Thai's very well, (fald the king.)
And you, daughter, (continued he to the fecond,) how
came you to put on a blue gown? • To fhew, fir,
(faid fhe,) we ought to implore the gods in your fa-
vour; and that in feeing you, I behold the heavens and
the brighteft ftars.' ' Now, (faid the king,) you
fpeak like an oracle. And you, Miranda, (laid the
king,) what made you drefs yourfelf in white?'
Becaufe, (faid fhe,) it becomes me better than any
other colour :' How-, (faid the king, a little angrily^)
was that only your detign ?' * 1 had that of pleafing
you, (faid the pri'nceio,) and I think I need no other.*
Whereupon the king was mightily pleafed at her
turn of thought, and faid, That iince he had eaten a
pretty deal at fupper, he would not go to bed fo foon,
therefore he would have them tell him their dreams the
night before his return.

The eldeft faid, fhe dreamed he brought her a gown,
the gold and jewels of which were brighter than the fun ;
the fecond faid, the dreamed that he brought her a
golden fpining-whcel and diftaff, for her to fpin herfeff
fome fhifts; and the youngeft faid, fhe dreamed he
married her fecond fifter off, and, on the wedding-day,
held a golden ewer, and faid, • Grrne Miranda, cen?c
' and wafh you.'

The

3& THE ROYAL RAM,

The king, who was angry a* this dream, knit his
brow, made a thoufand wry faces, and went into his
chamber, where throwing himfelf upon his bed, he
could not fcrget his daughter's dream : ' This infolent
baggage,, (faid he,) would make me htr domeftic Have;

* I am not amazed now, why fhe.put on a white gown
' with thinking of me; (he looks en me as one unworthy
' of her reflections; but I'll prevent her ill defigns.'
Hereupon he got up in a rage; and though it was not
yet day, he fent for the captain of his guards, and faid
to him; ' You have heard of Miranda's dream, which

* forebodes fome treafon ; therefore I would have you
4 take her prefently, and carry her into the foreft and
1 kill her,, and afterwards bring me her heart and

* tongue: If you deceive me, I'll put you to the moft
' cruel death I can think of.' The raptain of the
guards was very much furprifed at fo barbarous an
order, but durft not feem averfe .to it, left the king
(hould take away his commiffion, but promifed him.
to perform it. Then going to the princefs's chsmber,.
which he had nmch ado to get to, it being fo very early,
he told her, the king .had fenl him for her. Where-
upon fhe rjfe prefently: a little Moor, that (he called
Patpatay, held up her train, and her ycung ape, named.
Grabugeon, and a little dog, which {he called Tintin,
ran by her iide.

The captain of tbe gunid carried her into the garden,,
telling her the king was taking a little frefh air; and
then .pretending to lock for him, and not finding him,
told her, he waswithoutdifpute gone from thence into the
foreft. Then opening the little door that led into the
foreft, and day coming on, the princefs obferved that her
conductor fhed fome tears, and feemed mehncholy ;
whereupon fhe faid to him, with an air of fueetnefs,
' What is the matter, you feem fo much afflicted r"
' Alas! madam, (cried he) whocan be otherwife? The

* king has ordered me to kill ycu here, and to cany

* him your heait and tongue, or elfe he will -put me to

* death.' At thefie words the poor princefs turned pale,
and fell a-crying, and in, that condition looked like a

lamb-

OR THE WISHES. 39

lamb that was going to the Slaughter; then fixing her
e\es on the captain, without any anger, laid to him^

* Have you courage enough to kill me, wh;> never did
*• ycu any injury in my life, but tathcr always fpoke to

* the king in year IV.vmr? But if I have deferved my

* father's anger, I fubmit without murmuring. Alas!
' I have fhew him but too much love and reflect, for

* him to complain without injuftice.' * Fear not fair
4 princefs, -(faid the officer) I'll Jooner fuffer the death

* I am threatened with, than be guilty of fo barbarous

* an action; but when I am gone you will not be more

* fafe: we muft find out fome expedient to perfuade

* the king you are dead.'

* What way can we find out ? (replied Miranda.)

* He will not be fatisfied, unlefe he fees my tongue and
' heart. At that Patypata, who ftood by and heard all,
without being obferved by either the princefs or the
captain, advanced, boldly, and throwing herfelf at
Miranda's feet, laid, *• I come, mndam, to offer you
' my life, let me be the facrifice : I fhall be but too well
1 pleafed to die for fo good a miftrefs.' * I have no
4 need of fo tender a proof of thy friendfhrp, (faid the
*• princefs, killing her) thy life ought now to be as dear
*• to me as my own. Whereupon Grabugeon came for-
ward, and faid, * You are in the right, my princefs, to

* love fo iaithful a Have as Patypata ; fhe may be more

* ferviceable to you than I can, therefore 1 offer you

* my heart and tongue with joy.' * Oh my pretty

* Grabugeon, ^replied Miranda,) I cannot bear the
thoughts of taking, thy life away.' With that Tintin
cry'd out, that it was infupportable to fo faithful a dog
as he was, that any other but him ihould lay down their
life for his miftrefs; and thereupon arofe a great dif-
pute between P-itypata, Grabugeon, and Tinto: in
Ihort, Grabugeon being quicker than the reft, clim'd up
to the top oi a high tree, and threw himfelf down, and
broke his ne«k; andihe Captain of the Guard, with a
great deal of -perfuafion, got leave of the princefs to
cut out his tongue ; but it proved too fmall to venture
to cheat the king with it.

• Alas!'

40 THE ROYAL RAM,

* Alas! mv poor little ape, faid the princefs, thcu hr-ft
' loft thy life without doing me any fervice ! Thot

* honour is reierved for me, interrupted the Moor;'
and at the fame time cut her threat with the knife that -
Grabugeon's tongue W3s cut out with. The officer
was for carrying her tongue, but thnt if was too black
to pafs for Myranda's * How unfortunate am I, (faid

* the princefs, weepine,) thus to lofe what I love, and

* not to be one whit the better for it.* ' IF you. had

* accepted of my proportion, faid Tintin, you would

* have none to have griev'd f r but me, and I mould
' have had the fstisfa&ion of being regretted alcne.'
Whereupon Miranda kifs'd her little dog, and griev'd
fo much, that (he fwoon'd away, and when fhe came fo
herfelf found her dcg dead, her conductor gone, and
herfelf 1 ft with her three dead favourites: which (he
buried in a hole that was ready dug hard by a tree, and
then bethought herfelf of her own fecurity.

As the foreft was not tar from her father's court, it
was not fafe for her to ftay there long, left fhe mould be
know byfome of the paflengers, therefore fhe made all
the hafte (he could to get out of it; but the foreft was
fo large, and the fun fo hot, that fhe was ready to die
\vith heat, fear, and wearineis; and was in continual
appreheniions left her father mould follow nnd kill her:
but (till continued going forwards-, making la&Knteble
complaints, having her gown almclt^orn off, snd her
ikin fcratched by the thorns and bramb'es At laft
hearing the bleating of fheep. ' Without doubt, (faid
« {he to herfelf,) here are fome fhepherds with the 3o. ks,

* who may direct me to fome hamlet where I may

* difguife myfelf in fomecountry drefs: for alas! con-

* tinued fhe, princes are not always the moft happy:
' who believes that I am a run-away? that my father,
« without any caufe or reafcn, fecks my life? and that
4 I, to frye it, muft be iorced to difguife myfelf ?'
While fhe was making thefe reflections, fhe arrived at
the place from whence fhe heard the bleating; but
how great was her furprife, when fhe came to a fpacious
plain, to fee a large Ram, ns- white as fnow-; hi? horns

were

OR, THE WISHES. 41

were gilt, a garland of flowers fattened about his neck,
his legs were adorned with bracelets of pearls of a nru-
digious fize, and he was laid on orange flowers, and
fhaded from the heat of the fun by a pavilion cf cloth
of cold. An hundred fheep finely adorned were wait
ing about him, fome drinking coffee, fherbet, and le-
monade; others eating ftrawberries and cream, and
f-vveetmeats; and others again playing at lafquenet and
baffet; fome had rich collars of gold, with a gallant de-
vice, and fome had their ears bored, and full of ribbons,
Miranda was fo much amazed, that fhe was perfectly
motionlefs, and looked about for the fhepherd of fuch
an extraordinafy flock, when the beautiful ram came
bounding and flapping, and laid, * Approach, divine

* princely, be not afraid of fuch gentle pacific creatures
' as we are.' * What prodigy is it (faid the prirrcef:>,
' ftepping back) to hear fheep fpeak ?' ' Alas! madam,

* (faid the ram) your ape and dog fpoke, and why is

* it more flrange that we (hould ?* ' A fairy (a nf we red
4 Miranda/ beflowed that gift upon them * * And
1 might not the like adventure attend us? (replied the

* ram, fmiling:} but my princcfs what brought you
' hither?' * A thoufand rni.stbrtune>, (replied Miranda)
1 I am the moft mifernble perfon in the world, and
1 feek an afylum to avoid the rage of a father.' { Come,
1 madam, with me (replied the ram) I will afford you

* one, where you fhall be known by nrnc, and be ab-
' folute millreis." * Bat 1 am not able to follow you,

* (replied fhe) I am fo weary.* Whereupon the ram
ordered his chariot, and foon after appeared fix goats,
harneffed to a gourd fhell, large enough for two perfons
to tit in with cafe, and lined with valvef. The princeis
placed herfelf in it, admiring an equipage fo novel, and
the ram got in after her, and then drove to the cavern's.
mouth, which was flopped by a large flone, which, on
the ram's touching with his foot, removed. After
which, he told t'ie princefs fhc might go done without
cianeer; which (he would hardly have ever confented
to, had not her fear of being taken prompted her to it ;
and upon that account, ftie never helitated, but followed
hf r conductor.

As

42 THE ROYAL KAM,

As the ftej;s were very numerous, the princ^fs thought
that fhe was either going to pay a vilit to their anti-
podes, or the EJyftan fhades; but was much more fur-
prifed when (he difcovered a vaft plain, enamelled with
various flowers, which excelled all the perfumes (he had
ever fmelt, furrounded with a large river of orange
flower water. In the midftof this plain were fountains
of wine, rofa-folis, and other exquifite liquors, which
formed caicades and other pleafant purling brooks, and
here and there holts of trees, which lerved for fhelter to
a variety oi choice birds and fowls, 2s partridges, quails,
pheafants, ortolans, turkeys, pullets, &.c. and in fome
parts, the air was darkened with fhotvers of bifcuits,
blanched almonds, tarts, cheefecakes, marrow-puddings,
and all manner of fweet meats, bcth wet and jrv; and
in fhort, with all necefTaries of life, with great plenty of
crown-pieces, guineas, pearls, and diamonds. With-
out doubt, the rariety and ufefulnefs of this rain would
have brought the Royal Ram a great many viiitors, if
he had been defirous of company; but all the writers
that mention him, affure us, that he chofe to be retired,
and was as grave as any Roman fenator.

As it was the pleafanteft feafon of the year when
Miranda arrived there, fhe faw no other palace than
what chambers, hails, clofets, orange-tree?, feiYnmine,
hcney-fuckics, tx-d rofc trees formed by ir.rcr— ixir,-^
their boughs The princely ram told Miranda, that
he had reigned foveieign there feveral years, and had
fufficient caufe to be afflicted; but that he refrained
from tears, that he might not remind her of her mis-
fortunes. * Your manner of treatment, charming

* fheep, (faid fhe) is fomewhat fo generous, that I can-

* not exprefs my acknowledgement enough; that I

* maft confefs, that what I fee feems fo extraordinary,
' I know not what to think of it.' No fooner had fhe
pronounced thefe words, but there appeared a troop of
beautiful nymphs, who prefented her with fruit out of
amber balkets; but when fhe went near them, the;/
infcnfrbly moved from her ; and at laft reaching cut
her hand to take hold of one of them, fhe foon perceived

they

OR, THE WISHES. 43

they were only fantoms. ' Alas ! (faid (he, weeping)

* where am J, and what are thefe?' At that inftant
the Royal Kam, for fo I muft call him, returning,
having left her fome moments, and feeing her fhed
tears, remained motionlefs, and ready to die at her
feet.

* What is the matter with my beautiful princefs?
' (faid he) have I any way failed in the refpecl th.t

* is due to you?'# * iNo, (faid (he) but 1 am not
4 u fed to live among the dead, and with fheep that
talk: every thing here terrifies me; and though my

* obligation is great to you for bringing me hither, yet

* I muft beg one favour more of you, to conduct me
' back.' • Fright not yourielf, (replied he) vouchsafe
1 to hear me quietly, and you fhali know my deplor-
' able adventure/

* I was born a prince : a great race of kings, who
4 were my anceftors, left me in pcffeiTion of one of

* the moll beautiful kingdoms in the world; my fub-

* jedls loved me, my neighbours both lear'd andenvy'd
' me, and I was efteem'd with fome juftice. My per-
' fan was not indifferent to thofe that faw me; and
1 being a great lover of hunting, and as- I was one day
' purluing a ftag, and tepaiated frjm my attendants,

* the flag took into a pond : I plunged my horfe in

* after him with too much iujpiudence, as well as rafh-
4 nefs ; but, inftead of finding the water cold, I found
' it extraordinary hot, and the pond oecoming dry all
1 on a fudden, there iffued out of a cliff a terrible fire,
1 and 1 fell to the bottom from cff the precipice, where
4 1 could fee nothing but flames, i believed myfelf
4 loft, when 1 heard a voice fay, 1 hey muft be greater
' flames that warm thy heart, ungrateful man. Alas!

* cried I, who is that who complains of my coolnefs?
4 An unfortunate wretch, replied the voice, who adores
4 you without hope. At the fame time the fire went
4 out, and I faw a fairy, whom I knew from my youth,
4 and whofe age and uglinefs always frightened me;

* fhe was leaning on a young Have of incomparable
1 beauty, who was loaded with chains of gold, to denote

* he

44 THE ROYAL RAM,

' her flavery. What prodigy is this, faid I to Ragotte,
' which was the fairy's name; was this done by your
' orders? Alns! by whole orders elfe do you think?
' replied fhe? Have you never known my fentiments
' till now? Muft I be forced to explain my fell' — my
' eyes ufed never to fail of conquefts; have they now
' loft all their power? Confider how low I ftoop, 'tis a
.* fairy that makes this confefiion, and kin^s are, in

* refpecl to them, but as ants. I p.m entirely at your
' pleafure, faid I to her, with an air and tune that ex-

* preffed fome impatience ; but what is it f Iv.U vcu afk ?

* Is it my crown, my cities, or my treafure? Oh wretch,
4 replied fhe, difdaiufully, I can make my fkuUions,
4 when I pleafe, greater than thee : 1 afk thy heart ; my
' eyes have aflced it a thoufand times, and thou hnft.

* not underftood them, or at leaft vvouHft not. \Vert
4 though engaged with any other, 1 mould not 5n!rmipt

* thee in thy amours; but 1 have too great an inteteft
1 in thee not to difcover the indifference of thy heart.
4 Ah! grant me thy love, .added fhe, (hutting her
' mouth, to render it the more agreeable, and rolling
' her eyes about, I will be thy dear Ragctte, will add
1 twenty kingdoms to that you poffefs, an hundred
' towers of gold, five hundred lull of filver, and what-
4 everthcu canft deiire be (ides.

4 Madam Ragotte, faid I to her, I beg of you, by all

* the charms that render you lovely, to fet me ?.t liber-

* ty, and then we'll fee what I can do to pleafe you.

* Oh traitor! cried fhe, if thou loveft me, thou wouldft

* not mourn fo much after tliy own kingdom; but

* be content to live in a grotto, wood, or defert. DJ

* not believe me to be fo great a 'novice; thou thinkeft
' of Healing away, but 1 tell you fjr your comfort,
' you muft (lay here; and the firlt thing you ihall do,

* ftnll be to keep my fheep, which have as much wir,

* and fpeak as well as though doft. At the fame time

* fhe brought me into this plain, where we are now,

* and (hewed me her flock, which I looked on but little;
' for that beautiful flave that was with her took up all

* my regard, and my eyes betrayed me; which the

cruel

OR, THE WISHES. 45

'cruel Ragotte obferving, flew upon her, and (Isbb'd
4 her in the eye with her bodkin, and fo deprived that

* adorable objecl of her lite. At this difmal light, I fell
' on Ragotte, and clapping my hand upon my fvvord,

* was going to facrifice her to the manes of that dear

* (lave, had fhe not rendered me motion lefs bv her art.

* My effort being vain, 1 fell on the ground, and en-
' deavoured to kill myfelf, to deliver myfelf from that

* wretched ftate I was reduced to; when (he, with an
' ironical fmile, faid to me, I will make you feel my

* power; you are at prefent a lion, but fhal!, ere lone,

' be a fhcep. Whereupon touching me with her wand, \

* I found myfelf metamorphofed, luch as you fee me;
f but retained both my fpeech, and thofe fentiments of
4 grief which I owe to my unhappy flate. Thou ihalt

* be five years a fheep, (continued fhe) and abfolute

* matter of this fweet abode: while 1, fepa rate from

* thee, and never beholding thy agreeable form, mall
' think on nothing but the hatred J bear thee.' Here-
upon fhe difappea red ; and if any thing could have fcf-
tened my misfortunes, or given any allay to my dif-
grace, 'twas her abfence.

The fheep fhe fpoke of acknowledged me to be their
king, told me all their misfortunes, how they difpleafed
the fairy, how fhe had compofed a flock of them, and that
they all underwent the fame punifhment. But (added
he) when their time is expired, they will refunie their
own forms, and leave the flock ; and for thofe who are
Kigotta's rivals, or enemies,- whom fhe has killed, they
abide here an age before they return into the world
again : of which number the young flave is, whom I
told you of. J have feen tier feveral months together,
but fhe never fpeaks to me; and, when I approach'd
towards her, it grieved me when I knew it was only a
fbadow.-. but having obferved one of my flock always by
that phantom, I underftood he was her lover, whom
Ragotte, jealous of the tender impreffions they hud
made on each other, had taken from her.

This was the reafon that made me remove from that
fairy, and for theie laft three years, think of nothing

but

$6 THE ROYAL RAM,

but my liberty, which was what engaged me fo often ts
the foreft, where I fbmetimes have feen you, fair prin-
cefs, driving your chaile, like L>iana, in her filver cha'
riot, and at other times mounted on a fiery fteed,
riding over the plains with the princefies and ladies of
the court, and like another, 'always fure to gain the
prize. Alas! if at thofe times I durft have fpoke, what
tine things fhould I have faid, when my heart offered
up its fecret vows ? But how would you have received
the declaration of an unhappy fheep like me.

Miranda was fo much concerned at what fhe heard,
that fhe hardly knew what anfwer to make; however,
paving him fome civilities, which gave him fome hopes,
fhe told him, fhe fhould not be fo much afraid of thofe
fhades, fince they were to come to life again: * But

* alas! continued fhe) if my poor Patypata, my dear
' Grabugeon, and my pretty Tintin, who died to ferve
' me, were to meet with the like fate, I mould not be fo
4 much concerned here.'

Tho' the Royal Ram underwent great difgraces, yet
had he a great many admirable privileges, * Go,
1 (faid he) to his firft 'fquire, who was a fheep of a good

* raein, go fetch the Moor, the monkey, and the little

* Dog ; their ihades may divert our princefs.' Soon
after Miranda faw them; and though they came not
nigh enough to be touched by her, yet their prefence
was fome comfort to her. In fhort the Royal Rarn,
who was endued with all the wit and delicacy proper
to fupport an agreeable converfation, was fo paflionate-
ly in Jove with Miranda, that fhe began to have fome
regard for him, and to make fome returns ; for what
can be difpleafing rn a beautiful, kind, carefTing fheep,
efpecially when known to be a king, whofe metamor-
phofis was to have an end ? Thus the princefs paffed
her days in the fweet expectation of a more happy fatet
whiie the gallant Ram, whofe thoughts were foley
bent on her, made entertainments, concerts of mufic,
and did every thing that was in his power to divert her >
his troop affiiled him in them, and the fhades contri-
buting fomewhat thereunto,

One

Oa, THE WISHED. . 47

One evening, when the couriers arrived, for he \va?
very fond of news, and always had the heft, they told
him, that the eldeft fifter of the princefs Mirand-i, was
going to marry a great prince, and that the nuptials
were to be very magnificent. * Alas! (cried the young

* princefs) how unfortunate am I, not to fee fuch fine
' things? I am here under ground with ghofts and fheep,
4 while my lifter, who will bedrefled as fine as a queen,
' will have all the court made to her, and I {hail be the

* only one who fhall not partakeof her joy.' * Madam,
' why do you comp'ain ? (faid the Royal Ram to her)

* Have I denied your going to the wedding! Go, when

* you pleafe ; but give me your word, you will come
' again: if you deny me this, you fhall fee me expire
' at your feet ; for my love is too violent for me to
4 fupport myfelf when I fhall lofe you.' Miranda pro-
mifcd him nothing fhould prevent her return. He gave
her an equipage fuitable to her birth : (he was drefTed
very richly, and neglected nothing that might fet off
her charms; (he got into a chariot of mother of pearl,
drawn by fix creatures that were half griffins, and newly
arrived from the antipodes, and was attended by a great
number of officers that were richly dreffed, and who
had been fenta great way to make up her train.

With this equipageihe arrived at the king her father's
court, juft when they were celebrating the marriage ;
as foon as fhe entered, fhefurprifed all that faw her with
the luftre of her beauty and jewels, and heard nothing
but accJamations in her own praife. The king looking
at her with great attention and pleafure, which put her
into fome fear left he fhould know her ; but he was fo
much prepoflerTed with her death, that he had not the
leaft idea of her. Neverthelefs, the apprehenfions of
being flopped, prevented her flaying 'till the ceremony
was over, and made her go away fuddenly, leaving a
box of jewels behind her, whereupon thefe words were
written, Thefe Jewels are for the new-married couple:
and when they opened it, there was nothing in it.
The king, who had nattered himfelf with fome hopes,
and was delirous to know who fhe was, was in the ut-

rnofl

•9 . TKE ROYAL RAM.

mqftdefpair when he knew fhe was gone, and ordered
his officer, whenever (he came again, to fhut the gates
and keep her in. Though Miranda vv?.s not Ion* ab-
fent, yet it feemc'l an nge to the Royal Ram, who waited
tor her by a fountain iide in the thickeft of the foreft,
u here he had brought out immenfe riches to offer her
as an acknowledgement of her return. As foon as he
faw her, he ran towards her, flapping and bounding,
careffing her in this manner a thoufand times, laid
djwn at her feet, kifled her hand, told her is difquiets
2nd impatience; wherein his paiTicn afforded him fo
much ekquence, that the princefs was charmed with
it.

Sometime afterwards the king mairiedhis fecond
daughter, and Miranda being informed of it, dcfircd
the Ram to let her gongain ; who at that proposition, was
extremely grieved; a iecret forelight prepoffeiTed him
With his misfortune; but as it is not always in our
power to prevent what we forefee, fo his complaifancy
to the pri:icels overbalancing his intereft in her, he was
not able to deny her. * You will leave me, Madam,

* (faid he) but this proceeds more from my ill fortune

* than from you ; I confent to your detires, iince I

* nevercouldmake you a greatei facrifice.' Sheaffured
him fhe would itay no longer than fhe had done before :
and fhe would be as much concerned as himfelf to be
detained : and delired him not to make himfelf uneafy.
In fhort, fhe had the fame equipage as before, and ar-
rived t erej'iftas the ceremony beean. Her prefence,
notwithstanding their attention to the ceremony, occa-
fioned a general fhout of joy and admiration, and drew
the eyes of all the princes upon her; who found her
beauty fo extraordinary and uncommon, that they could
hardly believe her to be mortal. The king was over-
joyed to fee her again, and never took his eves off from
her but once, to give orders to lock up all the gates.
When the ceremony was aimoft over, the princefs got
up luddenly to Real out of the c.owl, but was very
much ftirprifed and vexed to find all the gates fhut.

The kin-* went ;ir. to her with great refpect, and a

fubmif- .

OR, THE WISHES. 49

fubmiffion that gave her fome encouragement, deiiring
her not to deprive him fo foon of t^e pleafure of feeing
her, and to honour him at his court with her. prefence.
Then leading herin.oa magnificent hall, where all the
court was, he hirafelf held a go'den bafon full of water
for her to wafh her hands in. At this the princefs, who
was no longer mi ftrefs of her tranfuort, threw herfelf
at his feet; and embracing his knees, faid, * See, fir,

* my dream is fulfilled; you have held a bafon for me
' to wafh in, the day of my lifter's wedding, without

* any misfortune attending, you.'

The king foon knew her to be his daughter Miranda,
and embracing her, and (bedding fome tears, faid,

* Alas! my dear child, can you forget the cruelty of a

* father, whD would have facrificed your life, becaufe
' he thought your dream denoted thelofs of his crown?

* It fhall be fo, (continued he) fince both your lifters
' are married, and have each a crown, mine fhall be
4 your's.' And at that inftant riling up, he put the
crown on the princefs's head, and then in id, ' The gods

* preferve the queen Mil anda.' Whereupon the whole
court gave a great fhout of joy, and her two fifters came
and hung about her neck, and embraced her a thoufand
times. Miranda was fo much overjoyed, that fhe both
cried and laughed, embraced one and talked to'another,
thanked the king, and afked for the captain of the
guards, to whom (he was obliged for all ; and being tcld
that he was dead, was very much grieved thereat. When
they were at the table, the king de fired to hear what
had happened to her from the day whereon thofe fatal
orders were given; which fhe acquiefcing with, related
her whole ftory, without omitting the lea ft circumftance.
But while fhe was thus engaged with the king and her
fiftevs, the time of her rtturn was elapfed, and the
amorous Ram became fo uneafy, that he was no longer
mafier of himfelf, and feeing that fhe came not again,
faid to himfelf, * My unhappy form of a fheep is dif-

* pleafing to her ; alas! too unfortunate lover, what

* fifcill I do without Miranda; Ragotte, inhuman fairy,

* how great is thy revenge, for my indifference towards

C ' thee

co THE ROYAL RAM, &c.

thee.' Complaining in this manner, and feeing night
approaching, without any appearance of his princefs's
coining, he ran to the palace and afked for Miranda;
but as every body h?d heard of his adventure, and were
unwilling that the princefs fhould go back again with
him, they refufcd him the fight of her in fo rude a man-
ner, that he fetched (ighs, and made complaints capable
of piercing the hearts of all that heard him, except the
foldiers that kept the gates; and at lafl, overcome with
his gnef, laid himfelf down and died.

The king, who knew ncfhingof this deep tragedy, pro-
pofed to his daughter to ride in a chariot through all the
ilreets in the city, to mew her to her fubjects ; but what a
difmal fight was it to her, when they got out of the gates
of the palace, to fee her dear fheep ftretchedon the ground
void ol life? She jumped with precipitation out of the
chariot, ran to him, cried over him, and bemoaned the
death of the Royal Ram, which me knew was owing to
her not being fo good as her word, and in her defpair
thought to have partook of his fate.

The fairy Lauretina, who had prefided over their
births, fenfibly affected at the lovers' unfortunate fitu-
ation, came to their relief, and with a touch of her talif-
man, not only reftored the Royal l\am to life, but to his
natural form as a beautiful prince. The good old king,
happy in his wifhes for his daughter, finding the prince
royally defcended, confented to their union ; and in
full court made them heirs to his kingdom.

Thus we fee by virtue and perfeverance, though cala-
mities may furround us. — Yet if we are good, we mail
ultimately be hr.ppy.

C 51 )

G R A C 1 O S A

PERCINET.

r I "'HERE was a king and queen who had only one
JL. daughter. Her beauty, her fweetnefs of temper,
and her wit, which were incomparable, caufed her
parents to give her the name of Graci-ofa. She was her
mother's fole delight ; who ordered new garmen ts for her
every morning throughout the year, either of cloth of
gold, velvet or fattin. "Yet though (he was drefled in
the richeft manner, me was not proud, nor vain-glorious.
Shefpent the mornipg with learned perfons, whotaught
her all manner of fciences; and in the afternoon ihe
was employed at her needle, in company with the queen.
At dinner and fupper fhe was ferved in plate, and the
table wasr fpread with dimes of fweetmeats, and all
manner of confeftionary : fo that fhe was faid to be the
moft happy princefs in the world.

There was in the fame court an old maid, but very
rich, called the dutchefs Grognon, every way a moft
frightful creature to look upon ; her hair was i ed as fire ;
fhe had a face dreadfully broad, and covered over with
large pimples; of both her eyes that formerly (he had,
there nothing remained but continual b'ear; her mouth
was fo wide as if fhe would have devoured all the woild ;
only thofe fears ceafed, when people faw fhe had no teeth :
Ihe was hunch-back'd and crump fhou'der'd both before
and behind, and lajne of both legs. This fort of mon-
€2 fters

52 GRACIOSA AND P£RCINET.

fters bear a great malice to all thgfe that are lovely and
beautiful. She mortally hated Gir.ciofa up; n this ac-
count, and retired from court that fhe might not hear
the continual ^rrifes beftovved on her charms. She
lived in a paiticul?r csftle of her own, not f r diftant ;
and when any | erf. ri who came to vifit her, ffoke in
praife of the princefs, fhe would cry out in a violent
ppffion, 'ris fa lie, 'tis falfe; (he is not a bit handfome;
I have more charms in my little hnger than (he has in
her vvho'e bojy.

In the mean time the queen fell fick and diedv an 1
the princ( fs v isci; is \va«> very near following; her, fi-.ch
was her grief for the Jots of fo gcod a mother. The
king alfo no lefs bem .an'd his fatal divorce from fo
dear and loving a wife; he fhuthimfelf up in his palace
fora whole year together; till at length his phyficians,
iearing left he fhould impair his health, belought him
for his own gocd to take the air, and divert himfelf.
In compliance with this advice, he one day went a
hunting, but the weather being extremely hot, and per-
ceiving a fair caftle not far off, upon the purlieus of the
foreft, thither he made with all his train, and went to
repofe himfelf.

Immediately the dutchefs Grognon, having notice of
the king's arrival, (for to her it was that the caftle be-
longed) made haft to receive h''m, and told him that the
cooled part of the caftle was a laree handfome under-
roorn, to which fhe defired his rmjefty would give her
leave to cunduel him. Accordingly the king went along
with her, and feeing in the rocin about two hundred
pipes all in rows one above another, he afktd her whe-
ther it were for her own ufe only tfoa* fhe made fuch
large provifion. * Yes, fir, (faid me,)1 I provide for

* none but myfelf and family ; I mould be very glad if
' your raajefty would be pleafed to tafte my liquors ;
here is Canary, St. Laurent, Champaigne, Hermitage,

* Rivefalte, Rofa folas, Peifkot, Fenouillet; which

* will your majefty make choice of ?' * Frankly, (faid
' the king,) I hold your Champaigne wine to be the
' beft.* Grognon immediately took a little hammer,

and

GRACIOSA AND PERCINET. 53

and having given a rap or two at the head of the pipe,
it opened, and out came a million of piftoles: ha!
what's the meaning of this faid fhe, with a fmile! and
knocking at the head of another pipe, out flew as many
double louis d'ors as would have filled a bufhel. Good
God ! what's all this for, faid (he, in a feign'd aftonifh-
ment ! From thence pafTed to the third, (he knocked in
the fame manner, and there iflued as many pearls and
diamonds as cov.ered the floor. * Well, iir, (faid fhe

* to the king,) this is paft my underftanding; fome
' body mutt certainly have robbed me of my fine wines,
' and Slled up the vefTels with thefe trifles/ ' Trifles!
1 (cried the king in amazement) in the name of pro-

* phecy, madam Grogn ;n, do you call thefe trifles?

* Why, woman, thtfe trifles are enough to buy ten

* cities as big as London.' * Weil then, fir (faid fhe) to
' be plain with you, all thefe pij es are full of gold and

* precious Hones, and I will make you matter of them
' upon con ikion that you will marry me.' * A match,

* (cried the king who loved tnoney better than any

* thing) thh verv day, if you pleafe, before we ftir out

* of the cattle. But ftny (fiid Ihe) there is one condi-

* tion more: I will be mi'lrefs of your daughter as her

* mother w/is; fhe lhall be wholly at my command,

* you fhall leiveme the fole difpc.fnl of her.* ' Agreed,
1 (cried the king; you ilnll be mittrefs of my daughter

* too: here is my hand upon it.' Grognon gave him
her hand: after which, having given him the key of
the , wealthy cellar, th?y took their leaves.

So foon as the king arrived at his pa'ace, Graciofa
hearing that her father was returned, ran to meet him ;
embraced him, and afked him whether he had had
good 1 port; to which her ; father replied, * I have caught
' a pi -zeon alive.' ' Oh, fir, (faid (he,) give it to me,
1 and I will make it my c^re.' * That cannot be, (con-
' tinned the king; for that f may more intelligibly
« explain mvfelr", I mutt tell thse, that I have met the
' rUrchcf, of Grognon, and taken her to be my wife.'

* Good heavens ! (cried Gracioia, in her fi^ft tranfporrs)

* do you call her a pigeon, who is ten thoufand times

63 * uglier

£4 GRACIOSA AND PERCINET.

* uglier than an owl?' * Hold your toneue, (faidthc

4 king, (hewing himfelf fomewhat offended) 'Tis

' my pleafure that you love and refpecl her as much

* as if {he were your mother. uo therefore and

* drefs yourfelf for I intend this day to return back

' and meet her.

The princefs was very obedient; and went to her
chamber to drefs: but her nurfe, perceiving by her
eyes, that fomething troubled her, * What is the mat-

* ter, my dear jewel, (faid me) why weeps my child ?'

* Oh! my poor nurfe, (replied Graciofa) how is it
' poiTible I mould c-therwife than weep, my father is
4 going to bring me home a mother in-law ; and to com-
' complete my mifery, the only and mofl cruel enemy

* I have in the world; in a word, it is the hideous
4 Grcgnon.' How is it poffibie to behold her within
4 thefe curtains, which the queen, my dear mother, fo

* curioufly embroidered with her own hands? How is
'. it poflible to carefs a hideous face that hr-s fo impa-
' tiently fought my death?' * My dear child, (replied
' the nurfe) there is a neceffity that your demeanor
' fhould be as ccnfpicucuily good, as ycur birth is great :
4 princefTes, like yourfelf, ought to give greater exam-
4 pie than others: and what mere noble example can
4 you give, than that of obedience to your father? Pro-
4 miferne then, that ycu will not let Grogncn fee you
4 difcontented.' The princefs had much .,do to refolve;
but the difcreet nurfe g?ve hei fo many good reafons
for it, that fhe promiled at laft to put as good a face
upon the matter as (he could, and comply with her ftep-
dame's humour.

Prefently fhe drefled herfelf in a green garment, the
ground of which was cloth of gold : her white defhevelled
hair flowed in loofe ringlets about her moulders, the
fport of the playing and enamoured zephyrs, which was
the mode .1 that time; and fhe put on her head a light
gar 'and or K fes and jefTamines, the leaves of which \vcre
all i f e . -eidlds.. In this diefs, Venus, the mother of
Cn:. id, 'votiiJ not h.ve appeared fo fair. Yet her fad-
IK-.;, vh ch !he could not overcome, was ftiil vifibie in
her countenance, •

But

GRACIOSA AND PERCINET. 55

But to return to Grognon ; that hideous creature too
was employed in the decoration of her deformity, fhe
hadcaufedone fhce to be made half a cubit higher than s
the other, to avoid limping as much as pofliblefhe could.
The valley on one fide of her back was filled up with a
bolder well fluffed, to make it level with the.mountam
on the other fide : fhe had fupplied one of the empty
holes with a glafs eye, the beft fhe could meet with ;
and had painted her cheeks white, and dyed her abomi-
nable carrots black ; then fhe put on a purple robe lined
with bhie, over which fhe wore a yellow ioofe veft tied
with violet ribbons. And fhe would needs make her
entry on horfeback, becaufe fhe had heard the queens
of Spain were wont fo to do.

While the king was giving out his orders, Graciofa,
who waited for his going to meet Grognon, went down
into the garden, and walking ferward into a gloomy
grove, felted herfelf upon a bank of turfs: * Here,

* (faid me) at length I am at liberty: here I may weep
' as long as I will without moleftation:' and with that
the fell a iighing and weeping to that degree, that her
eyes looked Jike two fountains of water. In this con-
dition, having forgot all thoughts of returning again to
the palace, fhe fpy'd coming towards her a page clad in
green fattin, with white plumes in his cap, and the moft
beautiful countenance in the world; who, when he
drew near her, with one knee upon the ground ;

* Princefs, (faid he) the king flays for you.' She was fur:
prifed by the attractive features which fhe obfeived in
theyoungpage; and in regard fhe knew him net, thought
he might be one of Grognon 's train. *• How long (faid
' fhe) have you been admitted by the king into the

* number of his pages?' * 1 belong not, madam, to the
' king, (faid he) i belong to you, and never will belong

* to any othvar.' * You belong to me! (replied the
1 princefs, full of aftonifhment) how is that poflible, fince

* I know not who you are!' 4 Oh, princefs, (faid he)
« I never duift ss yet attempt to make myfelf known.

* But the misfortunes with which you are threatned by
' the king's marriage, obliged me to fpeak to you fooner

56 GRACIOSA AND PERCINET.

4 than otherwife 1 would have done. I had refolveo! to

* leave to time and my own afTiduous fei vices, thecare

* of manifesting my love andrefpect for your highnefs,

' and How! a page (cried the princes) h:is a page

' the preftom^tion to tell me he loves me! This com-
' pleats the meafure of my misfortunes.' * Flight not

* yourfeif, fair Grcicinfa, (f;,rd the page, with a tender
1 and refpeclful air) J am Parcinet, a prince too well

* known, both by my birth, riches and learning, for you

* to find fo great an inequality between us, though your
' merit ami beauty do indeed make a diftinclion. lam
' often in thofe places which you frequent, though

* you fee me not. Th^ cil't of F:ryifm, which I re-
' ceived from ray birth, has greatly a {lifted to procure
' me the pleafure of your company; I will attend you
' this da^, wherever you go, and perhaps it may fo fall

* out, that 1 may rfbt prove a uldef-; companion,' All
the white he was f peaking, the princefs locked upon him
with aftonimment from which ihe cuuld fcarce recover
berfelf. At iiift, (aid (he, « Are you the charming I er-

* cintt, whom Ihavefo great a defire to (ee, and of whom
•Tuch wonders are reported? How glad am I that you

* will be in the number of mv friends! Now I no
' longer fear the niifchicvous Grnpnon, lince you are fo

* kind fo take me under your protection.' Some few
words mo- e they had together, and then Graciofa re-
tamed to the palace, where (he found a boric rtady har-
neffcd and c parifoned, which Perrinet had put info the
ftable, and which the grooms believed to be appointed
for her. She mounted immediately ; f r Ihe was very
nimble 2nd relive, and the page took the horfe by the
btidle and led him, turning continually towards his
miftrefs, that he might have the pleafure of beholding
her.

When the horfe that was mnde choice of to carry Grog-
ron, apre<ived near Graciofa *s Palfiy, you would on the
compaiif'jn have thought him fome diaught-hcrfe, taken
from a cart, and the furniture of the princefs's horfe
did fo glitter with precious (tones, that there was no
companfon between them: of which the king, whofe

GRACIOSA AND PERCINET. 57

head was full of a thoufandorher fancies, took no notice.
But the eyes f ail the lords and Indies were fixed only
upon the princefs, wh^fe beauty they admiied ; and
her pretty page in green, who they thought the moft
genteel that belonged to the court.

They met Grogn.,n upon the road in an open calafh,
frightfully deformed nnd mifh?ped,notwithft nding her
arts to conceal it. I he king - nd the princefs embraced
her, and preferred her her horfe t >gct up and ride. But,
perceiving Graciota's Pa 'fry, * How (faid fhe) (hall

* that pufs h^ve a finrr h >rfe than I? 1 had rather
' never bf queen, but return to my wealthy c?ftle,
' than be thus afei.' The king commanded the prin-
ccfs immedntely to alight, m?ke it her requefl to Grog-
non, that fhe would be pleafed to do her the honour to
accept of her hoife:

The princefs obeyed without any reply; but Grognon
took no notice if her, nor even thanked her for her civility ;
but canting herfelf to be mounted, upon the princefs's
fine ambler, fhe 1< oked then if poflible, more odious and
frightful than before ; and all the while eight gentlemen
held her for fear of falling. Nevenheltfs fhe was not
pleafe'-i, but muttered a th mfand menaces and curfes
between her gums. They afked her what fhe would
be p'eafed to have ? « Have ! (faid fhe) why, as I am
' mifb efs here, 1 would have the green page to hold my

* horfe, as he did when Graciofa rode upon it.' Imme-
diately the king ordei ed the green page to lead the queen's
horfe. Upon which Percinet caft his eyes upon his
miftrefs, and fhe her's upon him, without fpeaking fo
much as one word : however, he obeyed, and all the
court moved on, while the trumpets founded aloud ;
whereat Grognon was rejoiced, and thought to herfelf,
(he would not change her flat nofe and fkrew mouth for
all Graciofa's beauty.

But when they leaft expected it, the mettled horfe
began to caper and bounce, and at lerrgth fell a run-
ning as if it had been for a race. Grognon held faft
by the mane and the pommel of the faddie, and bawl'd
out a moft hideous roar; but at length her courfer
€5 thresr

58 GRACIOSA AND PERCIN£T.

threw her, and down fhe came with one foot in the ftir-
Tup, the horfe dragging her over the ftones, through
buihes, and through thick and thin, till fhe was all over
fo bemired that it would have been a kindnefs to have
punned her. But as the whole court rode after her as
Lft as poffible, they foon overtook her, though not till
her flefti was torn from her legs and thighs, her head
bruifed in three or four places, and one arm broken;
in fhort, never was a royal bride in fuch a miserable
condition.

The king feemed to be at his wits end: they picked
her up like a glafs broken in pieces; for her bonnet
lay in one place her fhoes in another ; there lay a row
of teeth, there lay an eye; they however carried her to
the king's palace, put her to bed, and fent for the moft
eminent lurgeons. But notwithftanding her diforder,
{he continued tofcold and rave without ceaftng.

4 This is one of Graciofa's tricks, (cried fhe) without
* doubt fhe picked out that unruly head-ftrong jade to
' do me a mifchief, and to have killed me if fhe could.
1 If the king does not do me juftice, I'll return to my
' wealthy caftle, and never fee him more.' Grognon's
wrathful fpeech was prefently reported to the king ; whofe
prevailing pamon being intereft, the thoughts of loling
lu many pipes of gold and diamonds made him tremble ;
fo that he was ready f'rany imprelTion of revenge.
He ran to his odious miftrefs, fell at her feet, and fwore,
that if fhe would think cf a punifhment proportionable
to Graciofa's offence, he would give her up to chaftife-
ment: to which me anfivered, fhe was fatisfied, and
would fend for the wretch immediately.

Accordingly a meilenger was fent to tell the princefs
that Grcgncm would fpeak with her. The poor princefs
immediately turned pale, and (hook every joint of her,
believing that the meffage boded her no good, and that
it w.asnot to carefs and give her fweetmea ts that Grognon
dtfired her company: fhe looked about her every where,
to fee whether Percinet would, but there were no iigns
of him; fo ihe went with trembling leet and fad heart
Vy Grcjgnpn s apartment. No fooner was fhe entered,

but

GRACIOSA A^D PERCINET. 59

but the doors were lacked upon her, and four women,
rei'embling four furies, fell upon her, tore her coftly gar-
ments from her back, and ftript off her very fhift. But
when they difcovered"her naked beauty, the cruel hags
being; unable to bear the luftre of her dazzling white-
nefs, fhut their eyes, as if they had been gazing a long
time upon' the fnow. * Fall on, fall on, (cried the
*• mercilefs Grognon, from her bed) lef me have her
' flayed, leave not a bit of that white (kin, which (he
* thinks fo lovely, upon her flefh.

In anv other diftrefs G- aciofa could have wifhed for
her dear Percinet" but finding herfeh quire ftript, fhe
was too modeft to de lire the prince fh'juld be a witnefs
to her nakednefs,. and therefore fhe prepared herfelf to
fuffer like a helplefs lamb. The four furies had each of
the en a terrible rod in theii hands, and huge brooms
flood by them to make more, as they wore out thefirft:
they hid on without mercy; and at every ftroke Grog-
non cried out, harder, harder yet, you are too merciful.

Nobody w >uld have thought, but that after all this,
the princefs muft have been flayed alive from head to
foot: but it fell out otherwife ; for the courtly Perci-
net had bewitched the women's eyes, fo that they thought
they had rods in their hands, when they were only light
plumes of various coloured feathers; which Graciofa
immediately perceived, and ceafed to be afraid. * Oh,
'• Percinet, faid fhe to herfelf, thou art come gener-
' oufly to my relief! What mould I have done without
« thee?' The furies having ?t laft fo tired them felves,.
that they could no 1,-nger ftir their arms, they huddled
the princefs'scloaths about her, and put her out of the
room, with a gre?tdeal of injurious language.

The princefs returned to her chamber, and feined to>
be very ill, went to bed, and ordered that nobody fhould
flay in the room but her nurfe, to whom fhe recounted
the whole ftory, and, tired with telling it, fell afleep;
which the nurfe perceiving, went out of the chamber
about bufinefs. Soon after, the princefs waking, fpied
in a corner of the chamber, the green page, not daring
to come any nearer out of refpedl. She told him fhe
C 6 would

Co GRACJOSA. AS*D PERCIN."T.

would never forget the obligation he hcd laid upcn ler;
fhe conjured him nut to abandon her to the fury uf her
implacable enemy ; and deiued him for the prefent to
retire, becaufe fhe had often been told, th^t it was not
decent for young virgins to be alone with ycur.g men.
He replied, « Thst he hoped {he was fenfible of the
' refpccl he had for her; and that it was but his duty,

* as (he was his mifti efs, to obey ker in ail things,

* thrugh it were nt the expence of his own fatirfadlion.'
He thereupon left her; having firft advifed her to feign
herfelf ill frcm the fevere treptment (he had received.

Grcgnon'sjov to hear that Graciofa was in fuch a weak
condition, made her mend focner than could have been
expected ; after which the nuptbls were folemnized with
a more then ordinary magnificence. And becaufe the
king knew that Grognon, above all things in the world,
loved to be praifed as a beauty, he caufed her picture
to be drawn, and proclaimed a tournament, wherein
fix of the braveft and moft accomplifhed knights of
the court were to maintain againft all gainfayers, that
Grognon was the moft beautiful princefs in the world.
Many knights and ftrangers came to maintain the con-
trary. And the ugly queen was prefent at all the com-
bats, placed in a balcony under a canopy of cloth of
gold ; where fhe had the pleafure to fee her knights, by
their ftrength and activity, victors, in defence of her
bad caufe. Graciofa, who was placed behind her, drew
the eyes cf all the people upon her, while the filly and
vain-glorious Grcgnon thought herfelf the only object
of their admiration.

At lair, when none feemed to be left that durft defy
the champions of Grognon's Beauty, on a fudden there
arrived a young knight, holding in his hand a box that
was ail fet with diamonds: immediately he caufed pro-
clamation to be made, that he would maintain Gicgnon
to be the fouleft and moft deformed of all the fex, and
that {he, whofe piclurc he had in his box, was the moft
beautiful virgin in the world. Having faid this, he ran
againft all the fix nights, and threw them to the ground.

Aucr which, fix more preferring thermfelves, one after

another

GilCIOSA AND PRRCINET. 6t

another till thev numbered 'four and twenty, the young
knight ferving them all 3 like; and then opening his
box, he told the vanquifhed champions, that to convince
them of their error, he fliould fhew them his beautiful
picture. Every body immediately knew it to be the
princefs Graciofa's, but who the young knight was, no-
body could tell ; who, after he had mnde a profound
bow to his miftrefs, retired without telling his name :
but Graciofa did not doubt he was her beloved Percinet.
The enraged Grognon, being almoft choaked with
anger, and unable to fpeak, made figns that it was Gra-
ciofa fhe would be at ; and when (he could explain her-
ielf, fhe fell a raving like a bedlamite. * How! (faid
' fhe) difpute with the prize of beauty? What, bring
' her champion to affront my knights! No, it is not
' be borne. — 1*11 be revenged or die/ * Madam,

* (replied the princefs) 1 will proteft to your majefty, I

* have no hand in this unlucky accident; and, if you

* pleafe willfign it with my blood, that you are the moft
' charming beauty in the world, and that I am a mon-
' fler of deformity." * Oh — you are merry, Mrs. Cock-

* a-hoop, (replied Grognon ; but I fhall have my turn

* in a little time.' Prefentfy it was told the king in
what a fury his wife was, and what a deadly fear the
princefs was in ; who befoueht him to have pity on her;
for that if he left her to the queen's indignation, fhe
would fhew her no mercy. But the king was not moved ;
and all his anfwer was, that as he had given up the prin-
cefs into the power of her mother-in-law, fhe might do
what fhe pleafed with her.

The wicked Grogno.n waited with impatience for
night; and when it was dark, ordered her flying-coach
to be got ready ; forced Graciofa into it, and directed
her to be carried, under a good guard, a hundred leagues
ofF, into a wide . fore ft,, through which nobody durft tra-
vel, becaufe it was full of lions, bears, tygers, and wolves.
When they were int) the midftof this foreff, they ordered
her to alight, and there left her, regardlefs of her tears
and fupplications to take pity on her. * I beg not (faid

* fhe) my life at your hands; but only that you will

. vouch fa fe

62 GRACIOSA AND PERCINET.

' vouchfafe me a fpcedy death: kill me, and at once

* deliver me from the many terrors w..rle than deiith
1 that I am going to fuffer.' but me might as well Fnve
talkt-d to fo many ftatues, for they would not even give
her an anfwer, and flying from her with an uncom-
paflionate fpeed, left the tair unfortunate virgin al! a'one.
Forfaken thus, and in the d^rk, fhe wandered for forae
time, not knowing whether (he w^nr, bruiting herfelf
fometimes asainft -he trees, falling fotnetimes, and
fometimes entangling among the thorns and bufiics; till
at length fhe fat down up n the ground, not having
ftrength to (land on her feet. Pt^cir.et, Ihe cried feme-
times to herfelf. * Oh Percinet ! where art thcu? is it

* poffible that thou fhouldft forfake me?' No fooner had
flic uttered thcfc words, but fhe faw one oi the mcft
agreeable and furp-.iling fights in the world; it w?s an
illumination fo iplendid, that there wns hardly a
tree in the foreft on which there lid not hang feveral
branches ftuck with tapers; and ^.t the bottom of a wallc
fhe perceived a palace, which ieevued to be all of chry-
ftal, and fh-ne as bright as the fun. She fecretly hoped
Percinet had a hand in this pleafing enchantment ;.-
which rnpe infpired her with no fmall joy, though inter-
mixed with fear. * 1 am alone, (kid (he to her(elf)

* the prince is young, agreeable, amorous, and I am
' obliged to him for my iife: Oh - this- is too, too much,
' I muft get out of his way ; 'tis better I fhou!d die than
' yield to his love.' Having uttered thefe w^rds, fhe
arofe faint and weary as Ihe was, as without fo much
as turning her e\cs towards the fair caftle, walking
another way, fo difturbed by the diffraction of her
thoughts, thnt fhe knew nut what fhe did.

At this inftant, a noife, which fhe heard behind her,
increafedher fears, and made her ^prehend fome wild
bead was coming to bevour her ; but looking,, trembling,
behind hrr, fhe perceived Percinet, who feemed more
beautiful than Love himfelf is painted by the moft ex-
4 quifite pencils. What, (faid he) my adorable princefs,
' do you fly from me! — Are you afraid of him who adores

* ycu'fCan it be> that you mould have fo little know-

•• ied-e

GRACIOSA AND PERCINET. 63

* ledge of my lefpeA, as to believe me to be capable of

* failing in the duty I owe you ? Ah, no, ceafe your fears,

* and go with me to the palace of Fairy-land; into which,
' however, I will deny my felf the pleafure of entering, if
' you forbid me. There you will be received by the

* queen my mother, and my fillers, who already have a

* moft tender affedlion for you, from the report I have
4 made of your rare endowments.' Graciofa, charmed
with the fubmiffivQ and obliging manner of her young
lover's addrefs, could not refufe to feat herfelf with him
in a little calafh, curioufly painted and gilded, which
two harts drew with fuch prodigious fwiftnefs, that in
a very fhort time he mewed her a thoufand different
parts of the foreft, which filled her with admiration.
Every thing might be diftinclly feen. In one place,
fhepherds and ihepherdefTes, curioufly dreffed, and
dancing to their flutes and bagpipes. In other places,
by the fides of purling ftreams, {he beheld the country
fwains courting their miftreffes, and heightening their
mirth by finging a thoufand witty fongs and roundelays,

I thought (fa id me to Percinet) this foreft had been
uninhabited ; but to me it Teems to be well peopled,
and that the people live very happily.*— -« Since your
coming hither, my dear princefs, (replied Percinet)
this gloomy folitude has been the feat of delights and
pleaiing amufements: the loves and graces all wait
on you; and the flowers, dailies and primrofes fpring
up under your feet.' Graciofa durft make no reply,
being unwilling to engage in fuch kind of compliments,
and therefore defired the prince to carry her to the
queen his mother.

Immediately he commanded the harts to haften to
the palace of Fairy-land, whither when the princefs
came, her ears were entertained with the iweeteft
muiic; and the queen; with her two daughters, who
were all exquifitely beautiful, came forth to meet her,,
embraced her, and Jed her into a great room, the walls,
of which were of the fineft cryftal. There, with great
aftonifhment, fhe cbferved the ftory of her life engraved
to that very day, ending with the tour fhe had juft taken

in

64 GR.AGIOSA AND FERCIKET.

the foreft with the prince in his calafh. * Your hiftorians
' are verv quick, (faid Graciofa to Percinet) foi I per-
' ceive all the variety of my axftion*, or even geftures,
' are immediately recorded here .' ' The realm, my
' dear princefs, (replied Pe cinet) is, becaufe I would
' not lofe the moft minute iden of your periedH- ns, but
' imprint them deeply in my heart; yet, alas! I am
' neither happy ncr contented any where.* She an-
fwered him not a word, but thnnked the queen for her
kind reception. Soon after a ncble barquet was ierved
up, and Graciofa eat wi»h eood appetite; being over-
joyed to meet with Fercinet in the foreft, where fhe had
been afraid Die fhould have found noth»ne but bears and
Hons. And now, thun?h fhe was fufficicrtly tired, he
engaged her to go into a iavge re om that glittered with
gold and diamonds, and container) the moft exquifite

Eaintings, where fhe was entertained with an opera, de-
rribing the loves of Cupid and Pfvche, intenr.ixt with
dances and fongs, among which a young fhepherd fung
the following:

You are belov'a fair Graciofa, more

Than ere the God of JL.OVC hinu'cif could love,

When he is Pfyche did adore.

Be not more rigV,us than bears or wolves,

Whofe natural rage diflblvcs,

When liking and affection move.

They to L ve's laws fubmit and tamely pay

Their homage to the little archer's bow.

Why fhould not you

As tender be, and kinder far than they?

She bium'd to hear herfelf thus named before the
queen and the princeffes; and whifpered Percinet, that
fhe was afhamed to find all the world were privy to their
fecrets; which, continued fhe, puts me in mind offome
pretty lines, which may be aptly applied on this occafiou.

Keep your fecrets in your br-eaii :
Silence is a charming gut ft,
I. entertain wirh full content :

For the worlds as It range conceits,
An ', as crimes, too often treats
The pleafures of the innocent.

Percinet

GRACIOSA AND PERCINET. £5

Percinet begged her pardon for having done a thing
that difpleafed her And now, the opera being at an*
end, the qvieen ordered the two princefles to conduit
Graciofa to her apartment. Nothing was ever more
magnificent than the chamber and furniture, nor forich
as the bed where fbe was to lie. She was attended by
four and twenty virgins drefled like nymphs, the eldeft
of which was about eighteen, and every one feemed to
be a miracle of beauty. When fhe was in bed, a mod
heavenly fytnphony of mufic filled the room, to lull
her to fleep; but her fpirits were fo agitated and difor-
dered by thefe iurpriiing things, that it was not in her
power toclofehereyes. * All that I have feen (faid fhe)
* muft certainly be Enchantments. Go d heavens!
' that a "prince fo agreeable and witty fhould be fo
4 formidable! I cannot make too much hafte from thefe
4 enchanting places.' Yet when me considered the
agreeable difference bet een living ni fo magnificent a
palace, and expofing herfelf TO rhe cruelty of the bar-
barous Grognon, fhe c >ul J n<,i think of the feparation
without regret. This o.'ijfHeration pleaded for her (by;1
but, on the other fi ;e, fhe found Pe'cinet fo obliging,
that fhe ref Ived not ro continue ao-y longer m a palace
of which ne was the m fUr.

In the mornine, as loon as fhe was up, fhe was pre-
fented with garments of all forts and colours, and the
richeft jewels, laces, gloves, and filk ftockings; all ex-
tremely fine, an^ admirable for the curiofity oi their
workmanmip. Graciofa *s drefs was never before fo
fplendid, nor did fhe ever more gracefully become it,
nor appear fo charming. When (he was drefled, Per-
cinet entered her chamber, habited in green and gold,
for green was his colour, becaufe G-aciofa loved it.
Whatever is admirable in fhape, beauty of features,
and majefticneis of mien, was all exquiiitely perfect in
Percinet. Graciofa told him fhe had not flept a wink
all night; having been kept awake by the thoughts of
her misfortunes; and that fhe could not but be appre-
heniive of the confequcnces. * What are your fears,
' madam ? (replied Percinet) You are abfolute fove-

66 GIACIOSA AND PERCJNET.

• reicn here, and are adored ; will you then forfaVe

• me and return to your moft cruel enemy?' * Were I
' themiftrefsof my owndeftiny, (anfwered the princefs)
' I would willingly accept the choice you propofe ; but
' I am acccuntabJefor my actions to the king my father ;

• and it is better, therefore, for me to fuffer, than be

• wanting in my duty.' Percinct omitting nothing that
he could think ol to perfuadehcr to marry him ; but fhe
would by no means give her content; and it was almoft
a^ainft her will that he detained her eight days; during
which time he ente. trined her with a thoufand new plea-
iures and diveilurs.

While fhe ftayed, fhe feveral times exprefled an
e?rneft Jefirt to know what pnfTed in Grognon's court;
and what plaufible ftories fhe contiived to conceal the
crueltv of her intentions. Percinet told her he would
fend his'fquire, who was both witty anddifcreet. The
princefs replied, * She was perfuaded he needed nobody

• to inform him, but might tell her himfelf.' * Come
' then (faid he; with me to the great tower, and you
4 fhall t .ere di irctly fee with your own eyes what you
delire to know.' With that he led her to a tower that
wasprodigioufly high, and all of cryftal of the rock, like
the reft of the caftle. He bid her let her foot in a parti-
cular place, and put her iittle finger in his mouth, and
then look towards the city. Which fhe had no fooner
done, but {he perceived the wicked Groc;noti fitting with
the king, and heard her talking with him after this man-
ner : * This poor wretch, the princefs, wilh all her beau-
' ty, has hanged herfelf in the cellar : I have been to fee
' her, and I profefs the very fight tf her fiighfed me:
' All that is now to be done is to bury her, and then I
' make no quefti <n hut your majcfty will foon forget fa.
' inconliderable a 1. is.' But the king wept, and bewailed
thede.itu of his daughter, while Grognon deriding his
forrows, retired to her cha nber ; where, by her com-
mand, a large billet was prefently dreffed up in fune-
ral pomp, and laid in a coffin, and the king immedi-
ately oidered a folemn interment. Infinite was the
train of mourners that attended the hearfe, weeping and

wailing

GRACIOSA AND PERCINET. 67

wailing, and bitterly curfing the ftep-dame, whom they
fecretly accufed as the caufe of the princefs's death,
kvery body went into deep mourning; and the prin-
cefs could hear them lamenting to themfelves, What
pity it was, fo fweet and young a princefs mould
perifh through the cruelty of the wicked Grognon !
It were a good deed, they cried, to cut her to pieces,
and caft her to the fowls of the air. The king alfo
would neither eat nor drink, but grieved continually.
Graciofa feeing her father fo extremely afflicted,
' Ah, Percinet (faid (he) 'tis impofftble for me longer

* to bear that my father mould think me dead ; there-

* fore, if you love me, cany me back again, that I may

* fhewrnyfelf at court ' Notwithstanding all his argu-
ments, he could not prevail upon her to relinguifh this
lequtft. * Dear princefs (faid he) you will \viih your-
' felf again, more than once in the palace of Fairy-land;

* though I dare i?ot prefume you will ever wifh for me,

* to whom you are more cruel even than Grognon is

* to you.' But whatever he could fay, Graciofa inlifted
upon going: fo taking leave of the pnncef?, mother and
fillers, Percinet and {tie got into the cahfh, and the harts
ran with the fwiftnefs of arrows. When they were out
of the precincts of the palace, Graciofa heard a great
noife; and looking behind her, beheld the whole edifice
tumbled down, and mattered into a thoufand pieces.
1 What miracle is this, (faid fhe) the palace quite
' denjuiifhed ! - Yes, madam, (replied Percinet) I muft
' Inve my palace among the dead, nor will you ever

* enter it again till your ^e^!h.' ' Why are you angry ?
' (replied Giaciofr, endeavouring to pacify him; all

* things confidered, have I not more reafon to com-
' plain than you?*

When they ai rived at the court, Percinet fo ordered
it, that himfelf, the princefs, and the calafh, became
invifible; fo that the went unfeen till fhe come into
the king's chamber, and threw herfelf at his feet. When
the king (aw her, he ftartedup in fear, and was running
nway, taking her tor a ghoft; but fhe held him by his
garment, and convinced him fhe was not dead ; but that

Grognon

68 GRACIOSA AND PERCINET.

Grognon had caufed her to be carried into a wild foreftr
where fne had got into a tree, and lived upon the fruit.
She added, that the queen tad caufed a biJkt to be
buried inftead of her; and be fought him to fend her to
one of his rem. te caftles, whert (he might not be expofed
to the rage of her mother- in-lav, .

The kinp, doubted whether {he fpoke truth, fent to
have the bi let taken up, and being convinctd of the
impofture, was amazed at Grognon's wickednefs, not
im??inirg fuch mrlice could have been in a woman's
bread. Any other king would have laid her in the bil-
let's p!?ce: but he was a poor weak man, who had no
couraje to be angry in earneft: howeve., he careiTed
his daughter more th^n ever, and made her fup with
him. But when Grognon's creaturts acquainted her
with the princefs 's return, and rhat fhr had fupped with
the kin?, her ra?e became perfect frenzy. She flew to
the kind's chamber, and told him, he muft either deliver
up his daughter to her that moment, or (he would in-
ftantly be gone nnd never fee him more; that he \v?sa
fool to believe fhe was Graciofa, thcuch indeed fhs fuine-
what refembled her, for that Grariofa had certainly
hanged herlelf; and that if he gave c edit to the im-
port ure of other?, he had not the confidence and value
which he ought to have for her The king, not daring
to refill, delivered up the unfortunate princefs into her
hands, beiievii «, or it-igning to believe, fhe was not his
daughter.

Grognon, tranfporred «.vith joy, dragged the princefs,
by the heip -^ er wovneri, into a dark dungeon, where
(he caufed her to be ftripped, covered her with c u'fe
dirty rags, nnd a naftv cap upon her head, hardly allowed
her ft raw to lie upon, or biead to eat.

In this diftrefs (he wept bitterly, and wifhed herfelf
again in the caftie of Fairy-land; but fhe durft not call
upon Percinet, confcious that fhe had not been fo kind
to him as the ought to have been; and confequently not
. daring to pr^rnifr hrrfelf, that he had ftill fo much l..ve
for her, as to come again to her fuccour. In the mean
time the wicked Grognon had fent for a Fairy more

malicious

GRACIOSA AND PERCINET. 69

malicious than herfelf ; who being come, * I have got

* (faid (he) a little Irairy minx that vexes me to death ?

* I would willingly puniih her, by fettiug her fomedilH-

* cult talks, \vhic,'j !he not being able to accomprifh, I
4 may h-ve a pretence to bieak her bones anl the no
' fxcufe: afTi't me, therefore, to find out fome new
4 punifhmont tor her every day.' The Fairy an f we red,
{he would cuniider of it, and return the next day. She
\vasas good as her word, and brought with her a fkain
of thread, ns wide about as the waift if three people;
fo fine that it would hardly bear breathing upon; and
fo tangled, that neither beginning or end were to be
found. Grognon was overjoyed at the irapnifibility of
this tafk ; fent immediately for the lovely captive, and,
with a fmile of derifion, * Here, (faid (he) prepare

* your clumfey paws to unrav '1 this fkain; and be

* a fibred, if thou breakeft the leaft bit, thou (halt dearly

* piy for it; for I will flay thee alive myfelf: begin

* when thou wilt, but I muft hive it unravelled before
4 fun-fel;' and, laying this, fhe fhut her up in a chamber
under three 1 ;cks.

When the princefs was alone, fhe attempted the tafk,
turning the fkain a thoufand ways, and broke it a thou-
fand times; which fo diftracled her. that fhe gave over
the attempt; and throwing it in the middle of the room,

* Go, fatal fkain, (faid fhe) lie there, fince thou it is
' that art to be the occafion of my death. Oh, Percinet !
4 Percinet! if my fe verity has not given too great a

* repnlie to your aflfeclion, though I cannot hope your
4 affifbnce, yet come, however, and receive my laft
4 farewell.' Saying this, fhe fell a weeping fo bitterly,
that any thing lefs fenliblethan a lover would have been
moved to companion. Percinet immediately opened
the door with the Tame eafe as if he had the kevs in his
pocket. * Here I am, dear princefs, (faid he) always

* ready at your fervice; it is not in my power to for-

* fake you, though you refufe to return my love.*
Having f-ud this, he ftruck three times with his wand
upon the fkain ; and immediately the threads untwifled,
and clofed one to the other; and wi^h two more ftrokes,

the

70 GRACIOSA AND PERCINET.

the whole was unravelled with furprifing eafe: which
done, he afked her, whether fhe had any other fervice to
command him, and whether fhe intended never to bear
his company, but in her diftrefTes? * Upbraid me not,

* fweet Percinet (cried me) I am already too unfor-

* tunate. Oh, princefs, (replied Percinet) it is your

* own fault that you are not abfolutely delivered from

* this infulting tyranny, to which you are a victim.

* Go with me, make your felicity mine, and mine yours;
' what are you afraid of! That you love me not with
' a fincere and lading affedlion: (replied the princefs)

* I am defirous that time mould confirm the truth of
' the fentiments you exprefs for me/ Percinet being
offended at herjeaioufy, took his leave and left her.

The fun was juft fetting, when Grognon, who waited
for the clofe of the evening with the greateft impatience,
came with her four furies, who attended her wherever
fhe went. She put her three keys into the three locks,
and as fhe opened the door, * Well! (fa id fhe) I fup-
' pofe my beautiful idler has been afraid to make ufe

* of her ten fingers. — Ay, ay, fhe had rather fleep to
preferveher complexion.' However, when fhe was en-
tered, Graciofa prefented to her the flea in, wherein there
was not a thread amifs; fo that all Grognon could fay
was, that fhe had fullied it, and was an awkward crea-
ture ! for which fhe gave her two fuch unmerciful blows
on her fair cheeks, which were of the colour of the lily
and the rofe, that they became black and blue. The
unfortunate Graciofa, who was forced to fuffer patiently
what fhe could not avoid, was after this locked clofe up
again in her dungeon.

Grognon amazed that fbe had fucceeded no better
with herfkain of thread, fent for the Fairy again; and
reproached her in very paflionate terms; 4 Find me

* out fomething elfe, (faid fhe) fo difficult as may

* amount to an impoflibility.' The Fairy went away,
and the next day returned with a great tub full of fea-
thers of all forts of birds; as nightingales, canary birds,
robin-redbreafts, goldfinches, linnets, parrots, owls,
fparrows, pigeons, clinches, buftards, peacocks, larks,

2 partridges,

GRACIOSA AND PERCINET. 71

partridges, and an infinite number more, which I am.
unable to name; and thefe feathers were fo intermixed,
tha.t the birds themlelves would never have been able
to have known their own apparel. * Here (faid the

* fairy to Grognon) is thai will try the wit and pa-

* tience of your captive: command her to feparate

* thefe feathers, and lay the plumage of every one of

* thefe birds by itfelf ! which is a tafk would puzzle her,

* where fhe a Fairy herfelf.' Grognon wus in an ecftafy
of joy only at the bare thoughts of the princefs's per-
plexity. She fent for her; and after having terrified
her with a thoufsnd menaces, fhe fhut her up with the
feathers in a chamber under three locks, as before; giv-
ing her to underftand, that {he expected her work
fhould be done before fun-fet.

Graciofa took fome of the feathers, and looked upon
them; but finding it impoilible to know the difference
of one bird's feathers from thofe of another, fhe threw
them back into the tub. Yet fhe made feveral eflays:
but the oftener fhe try'd,the more impomble fhe found
her tafk. So that, at length overwhelmed with grief and
defpair, * I muft die, (faid fhe, with a lamentable voice)

* it is my death that is fought for, and only that can

* put an end to my miferies. Injured Percinet, has

* left me too no doubt; and to call upon him forfuccour,

* would be in vain ; for, had his love continued, he

* would have been here erenow.'

* Dear Graciofa, I am here, cried Percinet, flirting
4 up from under the feathers, where he lay hid) I am
' ready to deliver you from all your troubles : and now,

* after fo many proofs of my fidelity, can you any
4 longer fufpect the lincerity of my affection, or think I

* do not love you better than my life?', Saying this, he
ftruck three times with his wand upon the cafk, and
immediately the feathers flew out, and forted them-
felves into little heaps about the room. * I am in-

* finitely obliged to you, Sir, (faid Graciofa) but for

* you, I muft have been loft: and be allured I will not
4 be ungrntffui.' The prince ufed his utmoft endea-
vours to perfaade her to come to an immediate reiolu-

tion

7* GRACIOSA AND PERCINET.

tion in his favour: but dill me in fi fled upon time, he
complied, though it was much sgninfl his will.

Giognon carne exactly at htrh-mr; but \v.as quile
amazed and confounded to fee her defigns a^aiu de-
feated : fhe, however, beftpwed foine blows upon Gra-
ciofa, pretending the feathers were not laid even.
She fent for the Fairy directly, and fell into fuch a
rage againft. her, that fhe knew not what to fay, being
heifelf quite confounded. At length the Fairy promif-
cd to ufe herutmoft art, in making a bcx, which if her
curiolity ever tempted her to open, mould puzzle her
to fhut again, beyond all the arts in Fairy land to help
her : Accordingly fome days after, (he brought this bjx,
which was fomewhat large. * Here, (fa id fhe to Grog-
' ncn) fend ycur captive fomewhere with this box;
' but forbid her to open it, and then ihe certainly will;

* and you will have your defire.* Grognon, observing
the Fairy's directions, * Here, (faid fhe, to her fair

* captive) carry this box to my lich caftle, and fet it

* upon a table in my cabinet; but, upon pain of death,

* i command you not to look what is in it.'
Graciofa, having put on her wooden clogs, her canvas

gown, and her woollen cap, fet out on her journey. All
that met her cried, certainly there goes fome goddefs in
difguife; for the poverty of her drefs could not conceal
her wonderful beauty. However, fhe began to be tired
with her journey ; and coming into a little wood, fur-
rounded with delightful meadows, fhe fat down to reft
herfelf : but having fet the box en her knees, her curio-
fity on a fudden prompted her to open it. * What can

* be the danger ; faid fhe to herfelf) I fhall take no-
' thing out of it, and would only fee what is in it;' fo,
reflecting no farther on the confequences, fhe opened the
box; when immediately out came a great many littJe
men and women, violins, inftruments, little pictures,
little cooks, and little dimes; in fhort, the giant of the
whole company was not higher than your little finger:
they danced in the meadows; divided themfelves into
companies, and began the pleafanteft ball that ever was
feen; fome flapped and capered about; others acted as

cooks;

GRACIOSA AND PEHCIXET. 73

cooks; fomeeat and drank ; and the little violins played
to a miracle. Grc-ciofa, for tome time, wns delighted
\vith the fight, thinking to recall the merry wantons
into the b»x ; but not one of them would icturn : the
little gentlemen and ladies betook thenafelves to their
heeh; the violins ran away ; the cooks, with their pots
upon their heads, and their fpits upon their moulders,
flew from her like fo many birds ; and when me followed
them into the wood, they got into the meadows; when
fhe ran after them in the meadows, they flew into the
wood. ' Oh, indifcrcet curiofity ! (cried Graciofa,
' weeping) Now my enemies will prevail: the only
' misfortune I could have prevented, is befallen me

* through my own folly; no, I cannot fufficiently
1 blame myfelf. Oh! Percinet! Percinet ! if it be
1 poffible for thee flill to love a princefs fo imprudent,
' aflift me once more, in this moft perilous accident
1 that ever threatened mv life.

Percinet did not flay to be called thrice, but appeared
immediately in his green habit; faying, were it not fcr
the wicked Grognon, he fuppofed Graciofa would never
think of him. * Have a better opinion of my fenti-
' ments (replied the princefs) I am neither infenfible
' of merit, nor ungrateful for kindnefies received. It

* is true, I have put your conftancy to trials; but it

* is to crown it when I am convinced of it.' Percinet
being now better plea fed than ever, gave thiee ftrokes
with his wand upon the box, and immediately the little
gentlemen and ladies, the violins, the cooks, with their
roafl- meat, in fhort, the whole of this deminutive com-
pany placed themfelves again in the box, as if they had
never been out of it. Which done, Percinet, who had
left his chariot in the wood, defired the princefs to ufe
it the remaining part of her journey to the caftle; and
indeed fhe had no fmall need of fuch a convenience,
considering the condition (he was in. So, having ren-
dered her invifible, he conducted her himfelf, and by
that means had the pleafure of her company ; a plea^
mre to which, my chronicle fays, (he was not indifferent
in her heart, though (he was careful to conceal her fen-
ment:.

D Thus

7£ GRACIOSA AND PERCIXET.

Thus fhc arrived at the rich caftle: but when fhe de-
manded the key of the cabinet in GfOgmm's name, the
governor bur ft out a laughing. — * How! (fa id he) haft
4 thou the confidence to think that fhepherds girls are
« ever admitted into queens cabinets ! Go, go, get thee
' gone, wooden clo<rs and hobnails never yet denied
' thefe glitteiing floors/ Graciofa defired him to write
a line why he had refufed her entrance, which he readily
did. So leaving the caftle, fhe was received by the
amiable Percinet, who waited for her, and conducted
her back to the king's palace. It would be difficult to
relate all the tender and refpeclful arguments he ufed
by the way, to perfuade her to put an end to her mis-
fortunes. To which me replied, that if Grognon im-
pofed upon her any more of thefe impoflible command?,
£he would yield him her confent.

When the enraged ftep-dame faw the prince is return-
ed, me flew upon the fairy, whom fhe had detained
with her all the while, faftened her claws in her wrink-
led cheeks, and would have throttled her too, had it.
been poffible to ftrangle a Fairy. Graciofa prefented
her the governor's letter and the box ; but me threw
both in the fire, not vouchsafing to open them ; and had
fhe thought of it, would have thrown the princefs after
them; but fhe did not defer her punifhment.

She caufed a great hole to be made in the garden, as
deep as a well, and a great ftone to be laid over the
mdHth of it. Then taking occafion to walk in the
garden, fhe faid to Graciofa, and the reft that attended
her, * Under thst ftone, as I am informed, there lies
concealed immenfe treafure, let us go and remove it/
Upon this, they all fet their hands to it, and Graciofo
among the reft ; which was what Grognon defired ; for
as the princefs flood by the fide of the hole, Grognon
pufhed her in, and then rolled the ftone over it again.

This ftroke appeared paft remedy; for how could
Percinet find her thus buried in the earth ? She herfelf
defpaired, and repented fhe had fo long delayed to marry
him. ' How terrible is my deftiny: (faid fhe) this
< kind of death is more dreadful than any other.

Oh,

GRACIOSA AND PERCINET. 7;

' Oli, Percinst ! you are fufficiently revenged for my
' fcrupulous ielu£tancy. But I was afraid you were

* like many other men, who prove inconflant when

* once they find theinfelves beloved; I was defirous to

* be certain of your heart, but my unjuft fufpicions aie

* now the caufe of rny prefent mifery. Yet, (con-
' tinued fhe) if I could but hope you would fhew ibme

* regret for the lofs of me, I mould be lefs fenfible of
' my misfortune.' She was lamenting in this manner
to eafe her forrows, when fhe perceived a little door
open, which me had not feen before, by reafon of the
obfcurity. At the fame time fhe alfo fa w day-light, and
a garden full of flowers, fruits, fountains, grottos,
ftatutes, groves, and arbours; fhe went in, and walked

"forward into a fpacious alley, wondering what would be
the etfent of this extraordinary beginning. Soon after
fhe dilcovered the cafUe ot" Fairy-Land, which fhe
eafily knew again ; for a cattle made all of cryftal of
the rock, with^the hiftory of one's life engraved therein,
is no very common fight. Percinet appeared too, to-
gether with the queen his mother, and his lifters.

* Fair princefs (faid the queen to Graciofa) it is time

* now you mould confent ; make my fon moft happy,

* and free yourfelf from that deplorable condition
4 wherein you live under the tyranny of Grognon.

The grateful princefs fell upon her knees, and told
the queen fhe might difpofe of her deftiny, and that fhe
would obey her in all things; that now fhe difcovered
the truth of Percinet's prediction, when he foretold her,
that his palace mould be among the dead, and fhe never
enter it again, till fhe had been buried; that fhe was
amazed at his knowledge, that his merit was no lefs her
admiration, and therefore fhe accepted him for hej:
hufband. Now the prince, in his turn, threw himfeif
at her feet ; the whole palace refounded with mufic and
acclamations of joy ; and the nuptials were folemnized
with the greateft magnificence. All the fairies for a
thoufand miles round came thither in moft fumptuous
equipages; fome in chariots drawn by fwans, others by
dragons; fome rode upon the clouds, and others in
D 2 globes

j6 GRACIOSA AND PERCINET.

globes of fire. Among the latter appeared the Fairy
who affifted Grognon to torment Graciofa. When (he
knew who it was, {he was in the greateft furprife ; be-
fought her to forget what was paft, and faid fhe would
endeavour to make her amends tor the evils fhe had
caufed her to fuffer. And it is certain, fhe did net
ftay out the feftival, but remounted her chariot drawn
by two terrible ferpents, fhe flew to the king's palace ;
and finding Grognon out, wrung off her neck, notwith-
(landing what all the guards and her women could do
to prevent it.

The MORAL,

Detefted envy thus with baneful wing,

Difturbs the calm of our fereneft days; ,

She ne'er, with -holds her poifon'd fting,

But wounds iniidious, and our peace betrays.

'Twas fhe who Grognon"s malice mov'd

To ruin Graciofa's innocence j
'Twas fhe who all thefe fnares improved

Her wit to baffle, and confound her fenfe.

'Twas flie who aim'd the cruel darts,

Fair Graciofa's peace undoing j
But Percinet their influence thwarts,

And faves the fair from ruui.

Well did he then deferve the heart,

Which afterwards fhe gave his love j
And who with firmnefs bear the fmart,

To perfect joy their pains improve.

THE

( 77 )

THE
CURIOUS STORY.

OF

F I N E T T A.

SOME time ago there lived a king and queen who
had managed their affairs fo ill, that they were
driven out of their dominions; and to fupport thera-
felves, were forced to fell their crowns, then their robes,
linen, and laces, and afterwards all they had; and
when they were reduced to the utmoft poverty, the king
faid to the queen, * We are forced out of our kingdoms,

* and have nothing left, therefore we muft think of
4 getting a livelihood both topourfelves and children;

* think a little what we mould do; for my part I am

* entirely at a lofs.' The queen who was a woman of
good fenfe and wit, afked eight days time toconfider of
it ; and when they were expired, faid to him, * Come,

* don't let us vex and torment ourfelves ; you (hall

* lay nets and fnares for fowls and lines for fifh, while -

* I make them : As for our daughters, they are three
' proud idle fluts, and fancy themfelves ftill to be great
1 ladies, we will carry them a great way off, that it will

* be impoflible for them to find their way back again ;
' for we can never keep them as fine as they expect

* we fhould.'

The king, who was a kind father, began to weep when

he faw he muft part with his children ; but the queen

being of an imperious haughty temper, and he being

forced to acquiefce with her, he told her fhe might rife

D 3 early

78 STORY OF FIN ETTA.

early the next morning and cnrry her daughters
were {he thought fit. While they were thus ccn-
tiiving this affair, the princefs Finetta, who was the
youngeft of the three, heard them through the key-
hole; and asfoon as fhe was informed of their defign,
Tan as faft as fhe was able to a large grotto, inhabited by
the Fairy Merlucha, her god- mother ; but before fhe
went, took two pounds of fre'fh butter, eggs, milk and
flower, to make a cake of, that fhe might be the more
acceptable gueft. When fhe firft fet out, fhe went very
cheerfully ; but after fhe had walked fome time, and
the foles of her fhoes were worn away, and her feet be-
gan to be galled with the pebbles, fhe was fo weary,
that fhe fat herfelf down on the grafs, and fell a-crying
when a fine Spanifh horfe pafTed by ready bridled and
faddled, with diamonds enough on his hcufmgs to buy
two or three towns; who when he faw the princefs, he
fed by "her, bending his knees, fteming to pay fome
refpecT: to h?r; whereupon taking him by the bridle,
Ihe faid, • Pretty horfe, 5f you would carry me to my
' god-mother the Fairy, I {hall be very much obliged to

* thec; for I am fo wearv, that 1 am ready to die
' away ; I promife you I'll give you good corn and hay,
' and litter you down with clean ftraw.' The hcrfe
bent down before her, and fhe jumped upon his back,
he carried her to the Fairy's grotto asfwift as a bird flies
in the air; for Meriucha knowing of her god-daughter's
coming, had fent him for that purpofe.

When fhe went in, fhe made three low courtcfies, kif-
fed the hem of her garment, and then faid to her, ' Good

* morrow god-mother, how do you do ? I have brought

* you here fome milk, butter, flower and eggs, to make
' a cake after our country fafhion.' ' You are welcome,
4 Finetta, (faid the fairy) come and let me embrace
' you.' Whereupon fhe luffed her two or three times,
which made Finetta ready to die with joy; for Merlu-
cha was a great and renowned fairy. ' Well my girl,
' (faid fhe) you fhall be ray waiting woman, come

* drefs and comb my head ; (which the princefs did
' with all the addrefs imaginable.) I know what brought

* you hither, (faid Merlucha) you heard the king and

queen

STORY or FINETTA. 79

' queen con fulling how ihey might lofe you, and you

' have no mind to be fo ferved. Take this clue of

' thread, it will not break, and fatten one end of it to

* the door cf your houfe, and keep the other in your

* hand ; when the queen leaves you, it will be an eafy

* matter for you, by this thread, to find your way back
' again.'

The princefs thanked her god mother, who gave her
a fack full of cloaths, all covered over with gold and (il-
ver, and embracing her, fet her upon the fame horfe
again, who carried her home in a moment or two; and
when me had thanked her pretty horfe for his trouble,
and had bid him return, me went foftly into the houfe,
and hiding her fack under the bed, laid herfelf down
without taking any notice of what had pafTed. As foon
as it was day, the king awakened his wile, and bid her
prepare for her journey : upon which fhe got up, and
pul on a flrong pair of (hoes, a fhort petticoat, and
white waiftcoat, and taking her (lick in her hand, went
to call her daughters; the eldeft*of whom was named
Love's Flower, the fecond Fair-Night, and the youngeft
Auricular, or Fine-Ear, but, by way of nick name Finetta.
' 1 have dreamed to-night, (faid the queen) that we
1 muftgo and fee my fifter, where we mall be treated,
' and be very merry.' * Well good madam, where you

* pleafe (laid Love's Flower) who could not endure to
' live in a defert, fo that we go but, 'tis no matter where.*
The other two faid the fame, and taking their leave of
iheir father, they all four fet forward for their journey
'i hey went at laft fo far that Fine-Ear began to fear left
her clue mould not hold out ; for they had gone a great
many fcore miles: however, fhe was always behind,
fattening her thread in the briars. When the queen
thought me had carried them fo far that they could not
find the way back again, fhe went into a large wood, and
faid to them, ' Come my little lambs, lie down and

* take a nap, while I, like a fhepherdeis, will watch you,

* left the wolf Ihould furprife you/ Whereupon they
laid themfelves down and fell' a deep, and the queen,
when fhe thought them faft, took her leave as fhe thought,

D f JT

fo STORY o FISETTA.

for the laft time, when Finetta, who only {hut her eyes,
and pretended fleep, fa id to herfeif, ' Was I now of a
' revengeful temper, I mould leave my fitters to perifh

* here; for they have beat and abufed me very much;

* but, however, I will not forfake them.' — Whereupon
waking them, (he told them the whole ftory; at which
they fell a-crying, and beeped of her to take them along
with her, promifing to give her all the fine things they
had. * I know, (faid Finetta) you will not perform

* what you promife ; but neverthelefs J mail ad th«
4 part of a kind filler.' And thereupon fhe rofe up, and
followed the thread, which brought them home almoft

-as loon as the queen.

When they came there, flopping a moment at ike
door, they heard the king fay, ' My heart aches to fee

* you alone.' * Indeed (faid the queen) we were very

* much troubled with our daughters ' * Well, (faid
4 the kins) had you brought my Finetta back, J fhould

* not be io much concerned for the ether two.' And
j :ft then they knocked at the door: * Who's there V

* (iaid the king) ' Your ! hree daughters, Love's Flower,
4 Fair Night, and JFine-Ear, (replied they.') And at
t'i?.t the queen Trembled, and faid, ' Don't open the
4 door, foi they are certainly their ipirits; for 'tis im-

* poiliDie they fhould be returned.' The kin?, who was
aj great a coward as his wife, faid, * 'Tis falfe, you are
4 not my daughters.' Whereupon Finetta replied,
4 Look through the-key-hole, papa, and it I am not your
4 daughter, Finetta, I coofent to be whipped.' At that
the king did as fhe bid him, and knowing them opened
the door. The queen feemed to be very glad to fee
them, pretending jhe came back for fomethh.g fhe had
forgot, anddefigned to have gone back to them again.

Finetta, when all was over, alked her fifters for what
they had promifed her; who, thereupon beat her with
their diftaffs, and told her, That it was for her fake that
the king was not forry for them. Afterwaids fhe went
to bed; but being not able to fleep for the blows and
bruifes they had given her, ihe heard the queen fay, fhe
would carry them another wav farther off, from whence

fee

STORY OP FINETTI. 81

fhe was affured they would never return. Upon this
(he got up foftly, went into the hen-houfe, and wrung
cfT the necks of two pullets and a cockerel,, which the
queen had fet up to regale herfelf with; and putting
them into a bafket, fet oat to go and fee her god -mother
again. She had not gone half a mile, being in the
dark, and frightened out of her wits, before fhe heard
the Spanifh horfe whinnying and prancing; who no
fooner came to her, but {he mounted, and was carried
prefently to her god- mother's. After the ufual compli-
ments, fhe prefented her with the fowls, and defired her
good advice; for that the queen had fworn to carry
them to the world's end. Merlucha bid her not grieve
herfelf, and gave her a fack full of afhes to carry before
her, to fprinkle before her as fhe went along, telling her
when fhe returned, fhe needed but obferve her foot- fteps,
which would conduct, her back again ; and withal, charged
her not to take her lifters along with her, afTuring her,
if (he did, fhe never would fee her mote. The horfe
being ready, Finetta took her leave, and with it a great
quantity of diamonds in a box, which fhe put in her
pocket. A little before day, the queen called the prin-
cefles again, and told them that the king was not very
well, and that fhe dreamed they mud go all four to
gather fome herbs for him in a certain country, were
they were excellent. Love's Flower and Fair-Ni.ght, who
fufpecled that their mother's main end in this affair was
to lofe them, were very much afflicted ; but were, not-
withftanding, obliged to go, Finetta faid not a word all
the time, but kept behind them ftrewing her afhes ! and
the queen being perfuaded that they would never be
able to find the way back, for fhe had carried them a
great diftance off, and obferving them all afleep one
evening, took that opportunity to bid them good-bye.
When .it was day, that Finetta perceived her mother
was gone, fhe awakened her lifters, and told them the
queen was gone again, and had left them to themfelves.
Love's Flower and Fair-Night cried, and tore theii hair,
and beat their breafts; when Finetta, who was a good-
natured girl, pitied them, and told them, though her
D$ god- mother,

62 STORY OF FISETTI.

god-mother, when fhe informed her how (he fhculd find
the way back, charged her not to take them along with
her, and faid fhe would never fee her more if Pne did.
' Yet, (faid fhe) I will venture this to preferve my
' filters.' Whereupon they both fell up.;n her neck,
and kiffedher, and all three returned together.

The king and queen were very much furprifed to fee
the princefTes again, and talked about it all the night ;
when Fine-Ear, who had not her name for nothing,
heard them lay a new plot, which the queen was to put
in execution in the morning, and there upon ran and
awakened her fifters, and acquainted them with it.
' Alas! (faid fhe) we are all loft, the queen without dif-

* pute will carry us and leave us in fome defert ; for
4 your fakes I have difobliged my god-mother, and dare
' not. go to her as I ufed to do.' This news put them to
their wits end, and made them fay to one another, Wh-at
(hall we do? « Oh! (faid Fair-Night) do not let us

* trouble ourfelves, there are others who ha-ve as much
' contrivance as the old Melucha; we need but take
' fome peafe along with us, and fow them, and we mail
' eafily trace our way back again.' Upon Love's- Flow-
er approving this expedient, they put peafe in their
pockets ; but for Fine-Ear, inftead of peafe, fhe took her
lack of fine cloths, and her box of jeweis ; and they were
all three ready againft the queen called. ' I have

* dreamed to night (faid fhe) that there are three prin-

* ces in a country I need not name, waiting to marry

* you, and I have a great mind to carry you to fee whe-
' ther my dream is true or not.' The queen went firft,
and the princefTes followed after,. fowing their peafe as
they went along, never diflurbing themfelves, but being
fatisfied that they, by thit means, would find their way
home; when one dark night the queen left them again,
and went home to the king both weary of fo long a jour-
ney, and glad to have got rid of fo great a charge.

The three princefTes flept till eleven o'clock the next day,
when Finetta difcovered firft the queen's abfence ; acd
though fhe was well provided, could not forbear crying ;
but, however, relied more on the Fairy. Melucha, than

fhe

STORY OF FINETTA. 83

the ability of her fitters. * The queen is gone (faid

* fhe to her lifters) let us follow her as fa ft as we can.'

* H li your tongue, you fool (replied Love's-Flower)
' we can find the way when we pleafe.' Finettn durft re-
turn no anfwer; but when they wanted to go home,
they could find no traces or appearance of any peafe;
for the pigeons, with which that country abounded, had
eaten them up, which fet them all in tears. After
they had been two days without eating, Love's-Flower
afked her lifters, if they had nothing to eat ? Whereupon
Finetta faid, (he had found an acorn ; which they would
have had from her; but me anfwered, • What

* fignifies one acorn among three of us ? Let us fet it,
' it may grow to a large tree, and be ferviceable.' To
which they all confented, though there was no likelihood
of any tree in that country, where there was nothing to
be feen but cabbages and lettuces, which the princefles
lived on ; for had they been nice, they muft have pe-
rifhed. They had no other covering, when they flept,
than the azure ikies, and watering their acorn every
night and morning, which they perfieved grew apace.
When it was got to fome fize, Love's-Flower was for
climbing it, but it was too weak to bear her; as was
likewife Fair-Night, but fhe was too heavy: whereupon
Finetta tried, and when (he was up, her lifters afked her
what ihe faw ? fhe told them nothing. * Alas ! (faid

* Love's-Flower,) this oak is not yet tall enough.' How-
ever, they kept watering of it, and Finetta never failed
to get up into it twice a-day, and one day when fhe ivas
up, Fair-Night faid to Love's-Flour, * I have found

* a fack which our lifter has hid from us, what can there

* be in it ?' * Oh, (faid Love's FJower; fhe told me (he

* had fonae old laces.' ' But 1 believe fhe had fomc-
' thing better,' replied Fair-Night. And being curious,
opened it, and found fome old laces of the king and
q.ueen's, which ferved only to cover the fine clothes and
jewels. * What a fly flut this is, faid fhe, let us take
' them away, and put fome pebbles in their place.*
Which the other agreeing to, Finetta came down again,
without ever difcovcring the trick her fillers Jaad played

D 6 her;

84 STORY OF FJNETTA.

her; for fhe had no occafion to drefs in a deferr, all her
thoughts being employed on her oak.

One morning vv^ien (he was up in it, and her fitters
afked her as ufual, what fhe difcovered, fhe told them
{he faw a houfe fo beautiful, that fhe could not defc;ibe
it, that the walls were of emeralds and rubies, and the
roof of diamonds fet in gold. ' You tell fibs, (faid they)
' it cannot be fo.* * Indeed it is, (anfwered Finetta,)

* cotne and fee yourfelves ; my eyes are dazzled with
' the fplendor/ Whereupon Love's-Flcwer climed up,
and when fhe faw the cattle, was amazed ; and for Fair-
Night, whcfe curiofity did not fail to prompt her to get
up in her turn, (he feemed as much overjoyed as her
fitters. * We inuft, without difpute (faid they) go to
' this palace; who knows but we may meet with fine
' princes that will think themfelves happy to marry us ?*
In this manner of difcourfe they pafTed away the whole
nieht, when Iy ve's Flower perceiving Finetta afleep,.
faid to Fair-Night, * Let us drefs cur felves inrheclothes

* Finetta has brought aicn? with her/ ' The thought's

* very good/ replied Fair-Night.. Whereupon they got
up and dFeflVd themfelvcs, and made t. emfelves as fine
as gold and filver, and jewels could do.

Finetta, who knew not what her fitters had done,
opened her fack with a defign tr> drefs-herfelf, but how
great was her furprife and affliction, when fhe found
nothing but flints and (tones? And perceiving at that
very juclure her two fitters as bright as the fun in her
clothes, (he cried r-nd complained of their treachery;
who only laughed at her. * How can you (faid (he to
' them) carry me along with you to the cattle, wi'h-
' out letting me bed reffed as well as yourfelv.s.' — * We-
' have but clothes enough for ourfelves, (replied Love's-
' Flower) and ifthou importuneft us thus, thou (halt
' feel our blows. ' But (continued the other) they are
4 my own, mv god-mother gave them to me, and you
' have nothing to do with them/ * If you tea ze us

* any longer (faid they) we will kill you, and bury you,

* and nobody fhall know what isbecomecf you/ Which
Aruck fuch awe upon poor Finetta, that fhe durft not

provoke

STORY OF FINETTA. 85

provoke them, but followed them like their fervant-maid,
at a diftance. The neater they came to the houfe, the
more wonderful it appeared. * I cannot but think,
4 (faid they one to another) how we (hall be diverted
' and entertained; we ihall eat at the king's table; but

* for Finetta, (he Ihall warn the dimes in the kitchen ;

* and if we are afke^ who (he is, let us not make the
' leaft mention of her as our fitter, but fay (he is a poor

* herdfman's daughter,* — which caft Finetta into def-
pair, (he being a girl endowed with wit and beauty.
When they arrived at the gates of the caflle, they knock-
ed very hard, and were let in by a frightful old woman :
She was fifteen feet high, and thirty about, had bul one
eye, and that placed in the midft of her forehead, like a
Cyclops, and as large as five others; her nofe was flat,
her lkin b'ack, and her mouth fo large that it was very
frightful. * Oh! unfortunate creatures, (faid (he)
' what brought you hither? Do you know that this- is

* a giant's caft'.e, \vho would eat you all up for his break-
' faft? But it is well he is not at home; I am better

* than he: I will eat but one of you at a time, and you

* will have the comfort of living two or three days Ion-
' ger/ When they heard the giantefs fpeak thus, they
ran away as faft as they could, thinking to favethem-
felves; but fheftrid as far at one ftep as they at five, and
foon caught them again; and taking one by the hair of
the head, and the others by the arms and necks, threw
them all together into a cave, where there were nought
but toads, fnakes, and the bones of devoured perfons.
And as fhe was then for eating Finetta, and was only
gone for fome oil and vinegar, the giant came: but
thinking to keep them for herfelf, as a nice bit, (he put
them under a great tub, where they had no light but
through a little hole.

The giant who was fix times ns big as his wife, when
he fpoke made the houie ihake again, and when he cough-
ed, it feemed like thunder: he had but one large eye,
and his hair was like briftles; he leaned on a piece of
timber, which he ufed for a cane, and held a bafket in
his hand, out o£ which he took fifteen little children he

had

85 STORY OF FINETTA.

had taken away from their Barents, and fwallowed them
like poached eggs.- When the three princefles beheld
this, they fhuddered, but durft not cry, for fear they
fhould be hej.rd, the eiant fzid to his wife, * I fmell
4 frefh fleih: give it me.' * Y-,u always fancy, (faid

* fhe) that you fmell frefh meat, 'tis nothing but fotr.e

* fheep that are going by.' • Oh! (faid the giant) I
' am not to be deceived thus; 1 am fure I fmell frefh

* fle(h, and will look for it.' 4 Ay do,' replied fhe,
' And if I find any, (faid he) that you have concealed
' from me, I'll cut off your head.' Frightened at this
menace, fhe faid to him, * Be not angry my dear, and
' I will tell you the truth ; I have got three young girls,
*- that came here to day; but it is a pity to eat them;
' for they know how to do every thing, and as I am
' old, will be very ferviceable to me. You know cur

* houfe is very much out of order, our bread is not well
' baked, nor our beer well brewed, and I appear not fo
' handfome iince I have (laved myfelf with working;

* they (hall be our fervants, therefore do not eat them

* now; but if you have a great defire to them at any
' other time, you mail have them.' Ths giant, with
great reluctancy, pro mi fed her not to eat them all three,
but prefled hard for two; which (he oppofing, he then
defired one of them; whkh (he not acquiefing uith,
after great difputes he promifed her not to eat them ;
for fhe defigned, when he was gone abroad, tofeaft her-
felf with them, and to pretend that they had made their
ekape.

The giant ordered his wife to bring them to him, at
which they, poor creatures, were ready to die with fear;
but the giantefs encouraged them. When he faw them,
he afked them what they could do? They anfwered,
That they knew how to clean a houfe, and few and fpin,
and make fome ragouts, that all that tafted of them
generally licked their plates clean ; and that for making
of bread, cakes, and patty-pans, they were famous.
« Well, well, (faid the giant, who loved a dainty bit)

* make good your words ; but, (faid he to Finetta) how
« do you know when the oven is hot enough?* * I lay

' feme

STORY OF FINETT*. 87

' fome butter on it, fir, (replied fhe) and tafte it with

* my tongue.' Thereupon he ordered her to heat the
oven, and the princefs made a terrible fire; for you
mutt know, the giant's oven was as large as a ftable, and
he and his wife devoured as much bread as an army;
arid the giant, who everlooked them, eat an* hundred
cakes and pigginsof milk. Love's Flower and F.iir-Night
prepared the pafte : the giant faid the oven was hot
enough: Finetta told him, fhe would fee whether it was
fo, and throwing fome pounds of butter into the oven's
mouth, told nim it muft be tafted with the tongue, but
that fhe was too little to do it. * Oh! (faid he) lam big

* enough.' And thereupon he thruft himfelf fo far in,
that he could not get back again ; but was burnt to afhes.

When the giant's wife came to the oven, fhe was furprif-
ed to find inch a heap of afhes as proceeded from her burnt
hufband. Love's- blower and Fair-Night, who faw her
very much grieved, did what they could to comfort her;-
but at the fame time, were afraid her forrow would be
too foon over, and her appetite come upon her. ' Ma-
4 dam, (faid they) have courage, fome king, or great
*~ prince, will think themfelves happy to marry you/
Which made her laugh, and mew her long teeth, that
were as large as a finger. When they faw her in a good
humour, Finetta faid to her, * If you throw off thefe

* bear fkins, with which you now clothe yourfelf, we will

* drefs you a-la-mode, and you fhall appear as bright
' as any ftar.' * Let me fee, (faid fhe) what you

* would be at; but allure yourfelf, that if any ladies

* look better than me} 1 will make mince meat of you.*
Whereupon the three princefTes pulled of her cap, and
combed and frizzled her hair; and while the two lifters
were amufing her after that manner, Finetta with a
hatchet', fevered her head from her body at one blow.

Never was joy equal to their's ; they ran up to the top
of the houfe to ring the golden bells, went into all the
chambers of pearls and diamonds, the furniture of which
was lo" rich, that it was ecftaiy to behold it. They laughed
and fungall that day long, and almoft glutted themftlves
with fweetmeats and other danties, Love's-Fiower and
6 Fair-Night

88 STORY OF FINETTA.

Fair-Night laid in beds of brocade and velvet, and faid
one to another, * Our father was never fo rich in all his
' profperity; but yet we want hufbands, and may be
« allured nobodv will ever come here, fince this houfe
' paffes for a place of deftrudtion, Cr.ce the giant and
' his wife's death are unknown; therefore we muft go
' to the next village to fhew ourfelves in ourtinery, and
' we fhail not be long before we find perfons enough

* who will be glad to marry princefles.'

As foon as they were drefled, they told Finetta they
were going a-walking, and that fhe muft ftay there to take
care of the houfe, and have everything in order againft
they returned, or elfe they mould make her feel their
blows. When they were gone, Finetta, who was forced to
fcour and waih, was fo overpowered with grief, that fhe
burft out a-crying. ' How unhappy was I, (faid fha

* to herfelf) to difobey my godmother! all misfortunes

* have fince atrended me; my fitters have robbed me of

* my fine clothes, and dreffed themfelves in them.
1 Had it not been for me, the giant and his wife had
' yet been alive; and what am I the better for their

* deaths; I mould have been as well plea fed to have

* been devoured by them, as to live as 1 do now.' When
fhe had faid all this, fhe cried fo much, that her eyes were
alraoftfwoln out of her head ; and when her fifiers came,
me had the mortification to fee them bring with them
oranges, and fweetmeats, and fine fruits, and to hear
them tell what refpecl they had paid by a king's fen at
a ball they had been at ; and withal, to be bid to come
and undiefs them, and lay up their clothes; which fhe
darft not refufe; for if ever fhe complained, they
flew upon her, and beat her till they had left her for
dead.

1 he next day they went again, and came back as
before, and lived in that manner fome time; when one
night as Finetta was fitting ever a handful of fire, not-
knowing what to do with herfelf, raking among the^cin-
ders, (lie found an old rufty capered key ; ana after
h£.vi: g taking a great deal of pains to icour it, found it
to behold, and thinking it might open force-lock in the/

houfe

STORY OF FINETTA. 89

noufe, tried them all, and it belonged to a fine box, which
fhe opened, wherein there were rich clothes, diamond?,
laces, fine linen, ribbons, and things of great value.
Never mentioning a word of this good fortune, me wait-
ed impatiently for her iiflers going a gain the next day;
and then as foon as fhe faw them out of doors, drefled
herfelf fo fine, that fhe appeared as fine as the fun, and
went to the fame ball ; and though fhe had no mafk on,
yet her clothes had rmde fo great an alteration in her for
the better, that they did not know her. When fhe ap-
peared in that affeinbly, there was heard a murmuring
of voices, forne out of admiration, and others of jealoufy;
and when fhe danced, fhe excelled as much therein as in
her beauty.

Love's- Flower and Fair-Night, who had made there
ftrange havock among the hearth, feeing the favourable
reception this ftranger met with, were ready toburftwith
jealoufy ; but Finetta, who behaved .herfelf extraordi-
nary well, feemed by her air, as if the was made to com-
mand. Love's-Flower and Fair-Night, who ha.d been
ufed to fee their fifter dirty and grimy, retained fo
foall an idea of her face, that they knew her not, but
paid as much refpedl to her as the reft ; and fhe, as foon
as the ball was over, ran home as faft as fhe could, and
put on her dirty rags again. When her fillers came
home, they told her they had feen a charming young
princefs, whofefkin was as while a&fnow, the colour of
her cheeks as frefh as -a rofe, her teeth as even and as -
white ss ivory, and for her lips they looked like coral,
and that her clothes were all of gold and diamonds.
This fport continued fome time, and Finetta everyball
appeared in a different drefs; for the cheft was inex-
hauftibie, and the clothes were all fo fafhionable, that
the ladies followed that mode.

One night that Finetta had danced very much, and
had flaid longer than ordinary, and was willing to get
home foon enough, that fhe might not be difcovered by
her lifters, fhe made fo much hafte, that fhe loft her flip-
per, which was of red velvet, braided with pearls, and was
found the next day by the prince of Chery, the kirn's

eldeft

go STORY OF FINETTA.

eldeft fon, as he was hunting, and admired it fo much
for its fmallr.efs, that he kifled it, and carried it hon.e
with him ; and from that day, grew fo melancholy, and
referved, that he never would fpeak, loft his ftcmach, feil
away, and looked fo ill, that the king and queen, who
loved him to diftraclion, fent for all the remedies and
afftftance they could get; but all to no purpofe, for the
phyficians after they had confulted together, and made
their obfervations ior two or three days together, con-
cluded that he was injove, and would die unlefs he had
fome relief.

The queen, who doated on him, cried day and night
over him : but could make no difcovery who the be-
loved perfon was. She brought all the moft beautiful
. ladies of the court into his chamber, but he would not fo
much as look at them. At laft, the queen faid to him
one day. • My dear child, you overwhelm us with
' grief j we know you are in love, wherefore then mould

* you hide it from us? Tell who the lovely perfon is,

* and fhould fhe prove a fhepherdefs, we will not oppofe
' your deiires.' Hereupon the prince grown more bald
by the queen's promifes, pulled the flipper from under
his bolder; * This madam (fa id he) is thecaufeof my

* illnefs; 1 found this pretty little flipper as I was one
' day a-hunting, and am refolved never to marry any
4 but the perfon who can draw it on.' * Alas! child,
4 (faid the queen) grieve not, we (hall foon find her out.'
And then fhe left them, and told the king, who was very
much furprifed at the ftrangenefs of his paffcun, and
ordered to be proclaimed by fomud of trumpet, That all
women mould come and try on the flipper, and that
the perfon whom it fitted mould be married to the prince.

Upon this, all the fine ladies of the court wafhed and
paired their feet, and made choice of the thinned
blockings, that they might put on the flipper; but all to
no purpofe, fince none of them could get it on; which
was no fmall affliction to the prince. LoveVFlower and
Fair-Night, upon this, dreifea themfelves fo fine one
day, that Finetta was amazed, and afked them where
they were going?- Who told her, to court, to try on the

flipper

STORY OF FINETTA. 91

flipper that the king's fen had found, and that whoever
fuccecded, wasto marry him. Whereupon Finetta afked,
if me might not go? Which made them laugh at her,
and tell her, they wondered how fuch a dirty girl as
fhe could have any fuch thoughts, bidding her water
the garden, for fhe was fit for nothing elfe.

When they were gone, Finelta had a great mind to
try her fortune, having a ftrong fancy of her fuccefs ;
but was fomething at a lofs, becaufe fhe knew not the
way : for the ball me was at before^as not kept at court.
However, fhe drefTed herfelf ven^ magnificently, her
gown was of blue iattin, covered over with ftars of dia-
monds ; a full moon was placed in the middle of her
back, and a fun upon her head, which gave fuch a luftre,
as dazzled the eyes of the fpectati.TS. When fhe opened
the door to go out, fhe was very much fuiprifed to find
the Spanifh horfe there ; fhecarreffed him, and was over-
joyed to fee him, and mounted on him, appeared a thou-
faid times more beautiful than Helen. The horfe went
prancing along, and by the noife he made with champ-
ing of his bits, made Love's-FIower and her fitter look
behind, to fee who was coming after them; but how
great was their aftonifhment, when they faw it was
Finetta! « Iproteft, (laid Love's Flower to Fair Night)
* 'tis Finetta;' and the other was about to make foine
reply, when the horfe paffing by, da.fhed them all over
with dirt; whereupon Finetta told them, that fhe de-
Ipifed them as they deferved, and fo put forward.

Certainly, (faid Fair-Night) we dream ; who could

have furnifhed her with this horfe and fine cloaths?

'Tis a miracle to me: fhe will, without difpute, have

the good fortune to get the flipper, therefore 'tis in

vain for us to go any farther.*

While they were in the utmofl rage and defpair, Fi-
netta arrived at the palace, where fhe being taken for a
queen, the guards were under arms, with drums beating
and trumpets founding. She went into the prince's
chamber, who no fooner fet his eyes on her, but he was
charmed, and wifhed her foot fmail enough to put on

the

Q2 STORY OF FINETTA.

the flipper; which fhe not only did do, but alfo produced
the fellow to it. Upon which a1! perfons prefect cried,
Lcng live the Princefs ; and the prince arofe from off his
bed, came and luffed her hand, and declared to her his
paflion. As foon as the king and queen heard of it,
they came overjoyed; the queen flung her aims about
her neck, and embraced her. and called her daughter.
The king and queen made her great prefents, the can-
nons were fired, and there were the moft public demon-
ilrations of joy pcffible.

The prince defired fhe would confcnt to his happi-
nefs, and that they might be married ; which fhe refuf-
ed till fhe had told him her adventures, which fhe did in
a few words. Their joy was augmented fo much the
more, when they knew her to be a princefs by birth ;
and, upon acquainting them with the names of her fa-
ther and mother, informed her that they had deprived
them of their kingdoms. As foon as fhe knew that, fhe
vowed never to give her hand to the prince, urilefs they
were reftored again to their dominions, which the king
her father-in-law made no fcruple to grant. Jri the mean
time, Love's-Flower and Fair-Night arrived, and the
fijft news they heard, was, that their filler had put on
the flipper, and were fo much confufed, that they knew
not what to fay or do; but at laft were for g< ing back
again; when fhe hearing that they were theie, lent for
them, and, inftead of ufmg them as they deferved, met
them, and embraced them, afterwards prefented them
to the queen, acquainted her that they were her fitters,
for whom fhe defired fhe would have fome refpect.
They were fo much furprifed at their lifter's goodnefs,
that they ftcod fpeechlefs; but, upon her telling them
that the prince her fpouie would reftore the king their
father, and fend them into their own com. try, they tell
on their knees before her, and wept for joy.

The nuptials were celebrated with all the pomp ima-
ginable; Finetta writ a letter to her god-mother, which
fhe fent with great prefents by the Spanifh horfe, defiring
her to find out the king and queen her father and mo-
ther, and let them know her good fortune, that they

STORY OF THE WHITE CAT. 93

return to their own kingdoms ; which com miffion the
fairy acquitted herfeif of, and the king and queen were
reftored to their dominions. LoveVFiower and Fair-
Night lived as great and happy as they could delire,
and became afterwards great queens, as well as their
lifter.

The Morality of this Tale is, that while we act con-
fidently with virtuous Principles, however Misfortunes
may attend, yet in the End, Happinefs will fucceed ;
and fuch as are good will ever meet a juft Reward.

THE STORY

OF THE

WHITE CAT.

'TpHERE was a king who had three fons, all hand-
L fome, brave young gentlemen ; but jealous that
they fhould defire to reign before his death, he caufed
feveral reports to be fpread abroad, that they endea-
voured to procure themfelves creatures to deprive him
of his crown. The king found himfelf very old, but
his fenfe and capacity of government no ways decayed ;
fo that he cared not to refign up a place he filled fo wor-
thily, and thought that the beft way for him to live at

quiet,

94 STORY OF THE WHITE CAT.

quiet, was to amufe them by proraifes. To this end
he took them into his clofet, where, after he had talked
to them with gieat candour, he fa id, « You will agree

* with me, my children, that my great age will not al-

* low me to apply myfelf to the affairs of the public
' with as much care as formerly; and I am afraid my
' fubjecls will not be fo well pleafed with my adminif-
' "tration. Therefore I intend to refign my crown to

* one of you. But as it is very ju i that you mould

* ftrive to pleafe me with fuch a prefent, and as I deiign
' to retire into the country, I mould be very glad to
4 have a pretty little dog to keep me company, there-

* fore, without having more regard to my eldeft than

* my younseft, I declare to you, that he of you who
' brings me the moft beautiful dog, (hall be my heir.'

The three princes were very much furprifed at their
father's defire for a little dog- For the two younger,
they were extraordinarily well pleafed at this propofal ;
and for the elder, he wns either too timorous or refpecl-
ful to reprefent his right. However they took their
leaves of the king, who gave them money and jewels,
telling them, that they muft all return without fail in a
year's time, on a certain day with the dogs. But before
they fet out on this fearch, they all went to a caftle, three
leagues off, where they made an entertainment, and
invited their moft trufty friends and confidants, before
whom the three brothers fwore an eternal friendihip to
one another, promifing never to be jealous of each others
gocd fortune; but that the moft fuccefsful mould let
the other two partake with him, appointing that caftle
for their place of rendezvous, and from thence to go all
together to the king.

They every one took a different road without any
attendants; and for the two eldeft, they had a great
many adventures : but as the particulars are not fo well
known to me, I mall pafs them over in iilence, and
fpeak only of the youngeft, who was a prince of a fweet
behaviour, exact fhape, fine features, had delicate teeth,
performed all exercifes fit for a prince with a good grace;
and to fum up all in one, was a youth of bright parts,

and

STORY ciF THE WHITS CAT. g5

and brave even, to a fault: betides he fang very agree-
ably, and played on the lute and the orbo to admiration,
and painted with great judgment. Not a day pafTed
over his head, but he bought digs of fome kind or other,
as hounds, grey-hounds, fpaniels, &c. that were pretty,
keeping always the m oft beautiful, and letting the others
go; for it was impoflible for him to keep all the dogs
he had purchased, fince he had neither gentleman, page,
nor any other perfon along with him: however, he kept
going on, without fixing on any certain place: when he
was furprifed one night in a large foreft, where he could
find no (heifer, by a ftorm of thunder, lightning, and
rain. Still he purfued the road, and went a long way,
when feeing a fmall light, he perfuaded himfelf fome
houfe was nigh, where he might get a lodging that night.
Following the lights, he arrived at the gates of a {lately
caflle, which weie all of mafly gold ; in which were re-
flectors which gave that extraordinary light which the
prince fa w fo far off. The walls were of fine china,
whereon thehiftories of all the Fairies fince the creation
of the world were reprefented ; butthe rain and ill-wea-
ther would net fuffer our prince to ftay to examine t.hern
all, though he was charmed to find the adventures of
prince Lutin, who was his uncle among the reft.

He returned to the door, after having rambled fame
paces off, and there found a deer's foot at the end of a
chain of diamonds, which made him admire the magni-
ficence: he pulled, and foon heard a bell, which by the
found, he judged to be either gold or filver; and fome
time after the door opened, and he faw no perfon, but
only twelve hands, each hold a flambeau ; at which fight
he was very much furprifed, and was in difpute whether
or no he fhould proceed any farther, when, to his great
amazement he felt fome others behind him, which pufhed
him forwards ; whereupon he advanced with his hand
on his fword, though very uneafy, and, as he thought, in
fome danger: when going into a wardrobe of por-
phyry and lapis lazuli, he heard two fweet voices fing
thefe words :

With

g5 STORY OF THE WHITE CAT.

Wit1-. U:., -or. corn behold thofe hands,

And dread no talie alarms,
If you are fure you can wirhftand

The force of beauty's charms.

He could not believe he was invited fo kindly to fuf-
fer any injury, which made him, finding himfelf forced
forwards, to go to a great gate of coral, which opened as
foon as he approached it, and he went into a hall of mo-
ther o' pearl, and thence into feveral chambers adorned
and enriched with paintings and jewels: a vaft number
of lights that were let down from the cieling of the hall,
contributed to light fome part of the other apartments,
which befides were hung round with glafs feonces. In
fhort, the magnificence was almoft incredible. After
having gone into fixty chambers, the hand that con*
ducted him ftopt him, and he faw a great eafy chair
makeup towards him; the fire lit of itfelf, and the
hands, which were both white and finely proportioned,
tmdrefs'd him, he being wet, and in foraedangerof catch-
ing cold. A fine fhirt and a night-gown of gold bro-
cade, with cyphers and fmall emeralds, were given him,
and a table and toiiet brought by thefe hands. Every
thing was very grand: the hands comb'd out his hair
xvith a Hghtnefs that gave him pleafure, and afterwards
d reded him in extraordinary fine cloaths, while he not
only filently admired them, but at laft began to be in
fome little fright. When he was drefled that he feemed
as beautiful as Adonis, they conducted him into a {lately
halt richly furnifhed, where he faw in a fine painting,
the ftories of the moft famous cats ; as Rodillardtis hung
by the heels in a council of rats, the Cat in Boots, the
Marquis de Corabus the Writing Cat, the Cat turn'd
Woman, Witches in the ihape of Cats, with their night-
ly meetings, &.c. all very odd and fingular.

Two cloths were laid, both garnifhed with gold plate,
with beaufets fet out vrith vaft numbers of glafles, and
cups made of valuable ftones; and while the prince was
thinking with himfelf, what they were laid for, he faw
fome cats come and place themfelves upon a bench fet

there

STORY OF THE WHITE CAT. 97

for that parpofr, one lulding a mufic-boek, another
with a roll of paper, to beat time with, and the reft
with (mail guittars: when all on a fudden, they every
one fet up a mewing in different tones, and (truck the
firings with their talons, which made the ftrangefl
nmlick that ever was heard. The prince would have
thought himfeii: in hell, if the palace had not been fo
wonderful fine, it put him fo much in minJof it; then
flopping his eats, he laughed heartily at the ftveral pof-
tures and grimaces of thefe flrange mulicians. And
while he was calling to mind the feverai things that
had happened fmce his being in this caftie, he law a
little figure about half a yaid high came forward in a
vale of black crape, led by two cats in mourning cloaks,
with fwords by their fides, and followed by a numer-
ous train of cats; fome carrying rats, and feme mice
in traps and oages.

The prince wns in the greateft amazement, and
knew not what to think; when the little figure in black
coming up to him, and lifting up its veil, he faw the
prettied little white cat he ever had fet his eyes on,
which feemed to be young, but withal very melancholy,
and fet up fuch an agreeable mewing, as went to the
prince's heart. Prince, (laid fhe) you are welcome;
4 it is a pleafure to me to fee you here.' * Madam

* Pufs, (replied the prince) you arc very generous to
1 receive me fo giacioufly; but y,.u appear to me to
1 be a cat of extraordinary merit : for the gift y-u have
4 of fpecch, and this fUitdy cadle you pofTels, are con-
' vincing proofs of it.' ' Prince, (anfwered the White
' Cat) I deiire you would forbear y^ur compliments,
4 for I am both plain in my difcourfe and manners,
4 but have a good heart. Let us go, (faid fhe.) to fup-
1 per, and bid the rruficians leave off, for the prince d^es
4 not under ftand what they fay.' What, (laid he; do

* they then fay any thing?' * Yes, (auiwtied the White
1 Cat) we have poets, and great wits, and if you will

* ftay with us, you thall be convinced oi it. • I need
4 but hear y,,u fpeak to believe that, (anfwered he, gnl-

* lantly) for I look on you as on fomething m.,re than
* -common.*

E, Supper

98 STORY OF THE WHITE CAT.

Supper was brought up, the hands fet on the table
two dimes of foup, one made of young pigeons, and
the other of fat mice. The fight of the one hindred
the prince from eating the other, fancying that the fame
cook had dreffed both ; which the White Cat gueffed at,
aflured him that (he had two kitchens, and that he
might eat of whatever was fet before him, and be con-
fident there were no rats or mice in any thing offered
him. The prince, who believed that this beautiful cat
would not deceive him, wanted not to be told fo twice.
He obfervcd a little picture to hang upon her foot, at
which he was not a little furprifed and afked her to
fhew it him, thinking it might be fome fine pufs, a lover
of the White Cat ; but was in a maze to fee a handforre
young man, who refembled him very much. The
White Cat fighed, and growing melancholy, kept a pro-
found filence. The prince perceiving that there was
-fbmething extraordinary in it, but durft not inform
himfelf for fear of drf pleating or grieving his kind en-
tertainer.. He diverted her with all the news he knew,
and found her well acquainted with the different inte-
refts of princes, and other things tha t pafled in the world.
When fupper was done, the White Cat carried her
gr.cft into a h?ll, where there \v:s n flage, on which
tv five cats, and as m^ny apes, danced a mafk in Moor*
ifh and Chinefe habits; and when this was over, the.
White Cat bid her gueft good-night, and the hands led
him into an apartment oppofite to that which he had
feen, but no lefs magnificent : It was hung with tapef-
try, made of the wings of butterflies, the variety of which
colours formed moft beatiful flower?. The bed was of
fine gauze, tied with bunches of ribbon, and the glafles
reached from the cieling down to the floor, and the pan-
nels between reprefented, in carved work, thoufands of
cupids.

The prince went to bed, and flept a little; but was
awakened agnin by aconfufed noife. The hands took hi.rrr
out of bed, and put on him a hunting habit. He looked
o"tofthe wind nv, and fan7 above fire hundred cats,
fome leading greyhounds, and others blowing horns !•

it?

STORT OF THE WHITE CAT. 99

it being that day a great feaft, whereon the White Cat
had a mind to go a hunting, and was willine that the
prince (hould partake of that diveriion. The hands
prcfented to him a wooden horfe, that had a good fpeed
and eafy p::ces, which he made fome fcruple to mount,
alledging, they took him for Don Quixotic; but his re-
fufal iignified nothing, they fet him on the wooden horfe,
•which was finely raparifoned, with a faddle and houfing
of gold, befet with diamonds. The White Cat rid on a
moft beautiful ape, having thrown off her veil, and put
on a hat and feather, which gave her fo bold an air,
as frightened all the mice that fa w her. Never was
there better fport; the cats out-run the mice and
rabbits, and whenever they took one, the White
Cat always paunch'd its pray, and gave them
their fees. For the birds they were not in much greater
Security; the cats climb'd the trees, and the ape carried
the White Cat up to the eagles nefts. When the chafe
was over, fhe took a horn of about a finger's length,
which, when founded, was fo loud, that it might be
heard fome leagues; and as foon as (he blowed, fhe had
presently all the cats in the country about her, fome
mounted in chariots in the air, and fome in boats, but
all in different habits, which made a fine mow. With
this pompous train (he and the prince returned to her
caftle, who thought it favored very much of forcery;
but was more furprifed at the cat's fpeaking than all
the reft.

As foon as fhe came home, fhe put on her black veil
again, and fupped with the prince, whom the irtfh ait-
had got a good ftomach ; the hands brought him fine
liquors, which he not only drank off with pleafure, but
made him forget the little dog he was to procure for his
father : his thoughts were bent on bearing the White
Cat company, and he fpent his time in hunting and
fifhing, and fometimes in balls and plays. The White
Cat made fuch pamonate longs and verfes, that he be-
gan to think (he had a tender heart, fince fhe could not
exprefs herfelf as (he did, and be infenfible of the power
of love, but her fecretary, who was an old cat, wrote
fo bad a hand, that mould any of her works remain, it
E 2 would

i

«oo STORY OF THE WHITE CAT.

would be impoflible to read them. The prince had for-
grt his country, the hand ftill waited on him, and he
regretted his not being a cat, that he might pals his life
in fuch plea fa nt company. « Alas! (faid he to the

* White Cat) how forry am I to leave you, fmce I love
' you dearly! Either become a woman, or change me
' into a cat.' Which wifh the White Cat onlv anfwer-
ed in obfcure words, though (he was mightily pleafed
with it.

Thus a year flipt away free from care and pain.
The White Cnt knew the time he was to return, and as
he did not think of it, put him in mind thereof. 4 Don't

* you know, (faid (lie) that you have but three days to
4 find a litt'e dog in, and that your brothers have got
' fome very fine ones?' This muzed the prince out of
his letharey: 4 Bv what fecret charm, (cried he) have
4 1 Icrgot the only thing in the world, that is of the
' greardl importance to we? What will become of my
4 honour and fortune? Where (hall I find a little dcg
4 beautiful enough to gain a kingdom, and a horie

* fvvift enough to mnke diligent fetich aftei one?'
Then beginning to afflict himfelf, and grew uneafy, the
White Cat laid to him, * Do not grive, prince, I am
' your friend ; you may ftay here a day longer yet ;
' for though it is five hundied leagues off, the good
4 warden horfe \vi!l carry you there in lefs than twelve
4 hoirs.' 4 I th.-'nk you beautiful Cat, (faid he) but

* 'tis n ten" ugh tor me to return to my father; I muft

* crrry with me a little do?.' * Here, take this acorn,
« (faid the White Cat) it has a beautiful little dog in
4 it; pur it to your ear, ard you will hear it bark.'
The prince obeyed, heard it b;irk, and was tranfported
with joy. he would rnive opened it, fo grent was his cu-
riofify ; but the White Cat told him it might catch cold,
and he had better ftay till he gave it to his father. He
thanked her a thoufand tin<es, and bid her a tender
farewell, affu.ing her thr-t he never p?ffcd his days fo
pleafantly as with her, and that he was grieved to leave
h .r behind him : adding, that though fhe was a fovereign,
and had great court paid to her, yet he could not

forbear

STORY OF THE WHITE CAT. rot

forbear afking her to go along with him: to which po-
pofition fhe aniwered only with a figb.

The prince came firft to the caftle, that was appoint-
ed for the rendezvous with his brothers, who arrived Coon
after, but were very much furprifed to tee a wooden
horfe in the court, that leaped better than, anv in the
academies. The prince went to meet them ; thev em-
braced, and gave each other an account of their adven-
tures; but our prince took care to conre-.il the truth ot
hin, and iheWdi them only an ugly turntpif, telling them
thai he thought hi/n very pretty: At which, liv-uah-they
were very goo.t friend-?, ih« r.vonHeft conceived a Jerri t
joy. The next clay they .ill three went in the fame
co-.ich to the kin*.,'. The two ddr.fc carried their doi:t; in
bafkets fo white and deiicafe, tint none durlt h?rd»y
touch them,- and the yonn^elt h-nl hi? poyr defVicMlM!
turnfpit in a ftrin",. When they came to the pnhict,
the courtiers crowded about them to welcome them iuinc.
The king, when thev cam« into'his 'sjmtinenf, knew
not in v.'hofe favour to declare, fjr the two little dow
trnt the elder brothers brought weic almoft of ?:]'\- 1
beauty, when tru- youngeft puliin* the aconi our <>* his
p ckct, which the White Cat g.we him, pat an e;id to
the difference. A- feon as lie opened ir, they all law a
little dog laid on cotton, and fo imsll, fKat he might go
through a ring without t'/uching ir. The. prince f'-tt it
on the ground, and pretend y it began to dance a lara-
band, with cnftanets, as nimble and ns well as the belt
Spaniard. It was of a mixture of feveral colours, its
ears and loir; hair reached the ground. The king \v?s
very much lurprifed, and thought it was impoffible tv>
meet with any thing fo beautiful as Ton ton, by which
name it wis railed, yet lie was not very ready to pnrt
with his crown, the lead gem of which, was dearer t
him than all the dogs in the world. He told his chil
dien, tint he was very well plea fed with the pains they
had taken, DUL they had fucceeded fo well in the firft
thing he ha 1 delired, that he had a mind to make fur-
ther p-o >t of their abilities before he performed his pro-
mifc: And that was, he would give them a year to find
E 3 out

to

1O2 STO^Y OF THE WHITE CAT.

out a fine web of cloth fine enough to go through the
eye of a fmall workinp needle. They all ftood furprif-
ed ?nd concerned, that they tvcre to go ajain upon
another fearch; howevv, the i wo elder feemed the nit (1
ready, and all three parted with ut making fo creat a
profefli n .of friencifhip as they did the tirft time, for
the ftory of the turnipit had iomewhat Abated if.

Our prince mounted his wooden horfe again, and
without looking at'rer any othsr affiftance, than what he
mi ht expedl from the friend (hip of the White Cat, re-
turned in all diligence to the caftle, where he h>d been
_Jb well received; whsr<r hf net only found all the doors
open, bur the windows, walls, and walks illuminated.
The hands came and met him, held his horle's bridle,
and led him into the iVibie, while the prince went to
^the White Cat's chamber, who was laid in a little
bi fleet, on a quilt of white ftUin. When (he fsw the
prince, fhe made a thoufandikips and jumps, toexprefs
her joy, and laid, * Whatever reafon I might have,.
4 Prince, to hope for your return, I mwit own I duift
' not Hatter myfelf with it; iince I am generally un-
' happy in what I mod defire, therefore this furprifes
* inc.' The prince, full cf acknowledgement, careffed
her often, and told her thefuccets he hnd in his journey,
which fhe wns notnn"cquainlcd with, and that the king
required a \veb of cloth Ib fine, as it might be drawn
through the eye of a needle, which he believed was a
thing impoffible; but that however he would not fail to
trv to procure fuch a one, relying on her friendfhip and
affidance. The White Cat, putting on a grave air,
told him it was an Affair that required fome confldera-
tion, that by good fortune ihe hod in her caftle fome
cats that ipun very fine, that fhe would do what fhe
could to forward that woi k, fo that he might flay there,
and not trouble himfelf to fearch elfewhere, it being
unlikely for him to meet with any fo enfily.

Soon after the hands appeared, carrying flambeaux,
and the prince followed the White Cat into a Magni-
ficent gallery that looked on to a river, uprn \vhich there
were fome artificial fire-works, made to burn four cats,

who.

STOR\ OF THE WHITE CAT. 103

who had been accufed and convicled of eating fome
roaft meat, defigned for the White Cat's fupper; with
fome cheefe and milk; and beiides,for couipiringac.ainll
her perfon with Martitax and Lei mites, two famous
rats in that country: But as it was thought that there
was a great deal of injuftice done them, and that molt
of the witneffes were fuborned, the prince obtained their
pardon; notwithftanding, the fire- works were let off,
\vHich gave the prince very great diverfion. After-
wards a geuteel repaft \v~s ferved up, which grsve the
prince more pleafure than the lire, for his riding had
got him an extraordinary fionnch : For the rtft. ct' the
time, he ipent it in agreeable entertainments, with
which the ingenious White Cat diverted her gueft:-, v.Lo
WJS perhaps the ri;tt m-Ttni that was fn well entertained
by cats without any other company. Inaeed ihe White
Cat had a ready wit, and could difcourfe on anv fi.b-
jecl, which oitcn put the prince into a great c^nfisrri.a-
tion, and made him lay to her, ' Certain -y, ail this

* that I obferve fo wonderful in you, cannot be naiuml ;
1 therefore tell me by what prodigy you think and fpea'k.

* fojuftly?' Foibear afking me any -queftlous, pri.ice,
' (fa id me) for I am n t aHuv;ed to anfwer them, but
' you may cor.je&ure what you pleafe; let it fuffie'e

* that 1 have ufe.i vou with rei'peot, and that 1 intereft

* myfelf tenderly in what regards you.'
Thefecond year relied away infenfibly, as well as the

fir (I : the prince vviihcd tor nothing, but the diligent
hai'ids brought to him, \vhcihcr b jcks, jewels, fine pic-
tures, or antique medals, <kc. when the White Car, >\ho
was always w:--tchful for the urincc's intereit, informed
him that the time of his departure drew nigh: but that
he might be ealy concerning the web of cloth, for me
had a wonderful fine one made; and added withal, that'
thi-> time me would give him an equipage fuitable to his
biith, and without waiting for an anfwer, obliged him
to look into the great court of the caftle, in which there
waited an open chariot of emboiTed woik in gold, in
feveral gallant devices, drawn by twelve milk white
horfes, four a-breaft, tvhofe han.elivs \verc covered with
E i velvet

104 STORY or THE WHITE C^r.

velvet of fire-colour, which wns the fame as the lining of
the chariot, befet with diamonds, and the buckles of
g->ld. An hundred coaches with eight horfes, full of the
ic'dsci his retinue, magn.ficently cljathed, followed his
chaii->f, which wzs guarded b-iidt-s by a thoufand body
guards, wrrfe cloathing wits fo full of embroideiy, that
the ckth -.vas hurdly olic: ve'eci ; and what is very fingu-
hr, the White Cat's picture w^s ieen every where, both
in the devices on the chariot, and on the guards* ' Go,
' prince, (faid (he) and appear atthc kin$ ycur father's
1 court, in fo ftately a manner, that your magnificence

* may ferve to imp.fecn him, that he may rtfufe you
1 no longer the crown you deferve. Take this walnut,

• be fure tocradf it in his prefence, and yen will find in
' it fuch a web as you want.' • Lovely White Cat,
1 (faid he) I own I amfo penetrated with your bounty,
' that if you will give ycurconfcnt J will prefer faffing
' n y days with you, before ail the grandeur J may pro-
' mife my felfelfe where.' • P;ince (replied (he) lam
' perfuaded of the kindnefs of your hearr, which is a
' rare thing among prince?, who would be refpe<5led by
' all the v.'crU, and love nrne bat themfelves ; but you
1 fhcvvinc thisrule is net gener?,!. J mike great account
' of the attachment you have for a little U'hite Caf,
1 that in the main is fit for nothing but to catch mice,'
At that the prince kiffed her paw, and went away.

it is a lino ft incre.iibie to believe the hade he made,
we^e we unacquainted with the hviftnefsof the wooden
horfe, who carried him before five hundred thoufand
leagues in !rfs than two days; and the fan;c power that
anim itei him, had fo great an effect upon the ethers,
th it he was not above foar-and-twenty hours upon the
road, ?.nd never ftopt till he arrived at the king's palaqe,
whe:e his two broihe.s h:ij got before him; who feeing
1 e was not come, rejoiced at his negligence, and faid to
one another, * HJW fortunate is (his? he is either lick
' or dead, and will net come to rival us in this im£>or-
' rant buiinefs.* Thereupon they pulled out their webs;
\\hich were indeed very fine, and paffed them through
the eye of a large needle, but not a fmall one; which

pretext

STORY OF THE WHITE CAT. 105

pretext of refufal the king embracing, went and fetched
the needle he propofed, which tKe ma'j,i(lrates, by Ms
cider, h;id carried to the treafury, and locked up cme-
fully: This refufal raifed a great pjurmuring: Thofe
that were friends to the princes, and particularly the
eldeft, whole wtb wrs the fir.eft, Ib'd it was all a trick
and evalion : And the king's creatures maintained, that
he was net obliged to keep any, other conditions thnn
what were prep,. fed ; when, to put an end to this diffe-
rence, there w; s heaid a founding of trumpets and
hautboys, which came teforeour prince.

The king and his fons w.re all furprifed at this mag-
nificence. The prince, afier he had rrfpccl.fuliy fainted
his father, and embraced his brc.thers, tock out of his
box, covered with rubies, a walnut which he cracked,
thinking to find the web fo much bonded of; but only faw
a frnall hazel nut, which he cracked alfo, and tohisfui prife
found only a kernel of wax. The kii.g and every body
laughed, to think that the pi incefead been focredulous as to
think to carry a web <:f cloth in a nut : but had they recol-
lected themfelves, they might have remembered the li tic
dog that lay in an acorn. However he peeled the kerne),
and nothing appeared but the pulp itfcif, wheieupon a
great noife was heard .all over the room, every one having
it in his mouth what a fool the prince was made of ; who,
for his part, returned no anfvvor to all the plea fan tries of
thecourtieis, but broke the kernel, and found in it a ccrn
of wheat, and in that a grain oi n.ilkt. At the fight of
this he began to dittrult, and muttered to himfelf, * O
4 White Cat! White Cat! thou ha ft deceived me ! And
at that Tnftant he felt a cat's paw upon his hand, which
fcratched hiin, and fetched blood; he knew not whether
it was to encourage or difmay him. However, he open-
ed the millet feed, and to the amazement of all prelent,
drew out a web of cloth, four hundred yards long! and
what was moie wondei ful, there weie painted on it all
forts of birds, beads and fifh ; fruits, trees and plants;
rocks, and all manner of rare fhells of the lea ; the fun,
rrrt>on,ftars and pk nets; and all the pictures of all the
kings and princes cf the world, with thofe cf their wives,
rmftrefles and children, all drefled after the faihion of
E 5 their

ic6 STOR* of THE WHITE CAT.

their own country. When the kiri; nw this piece of
cloth, heturr.ej as pile as the prince was red in looking
fo long for it, and the needle was brought, and it we 3
put through five or fix time*.; all which time, the king
and his two fons were iilent, though afterwards, the
beauty and rariety of the cloth wasfo £reat, they fa id it
was not to be matched in the whole world. The king
fetched a deep iigh, and turning himfeli towards his chil-
dren, fa id to them ! * Nothing gives me fo much com-

* fort in my hold age, as to be fenfible of the deference

* you have for me, which makes me delirous of putting
' you to a new trial. Go and travel another year, and
' he that brings me the moft beautiful damfel, {hall

* marry her, and be crowned king, there bein^ an ab-
' folute neceflity that my fucceflur mould marry; and

* I fwear and promife. 1 will no longer defer the re-
« ward.' .

Our prince fufFered ?. 11 this injuRice; the little dog
and the web of cloth rather deferved ten crowns than
one; but he was of fo»fweet a difpolition, that he would
not thwart his father's will : fo without any delay he
got into his chariot again, arid with his train returned to
iiis dear White Cat, who knowing the day and moment
he would come, had the roads {hewed with Howers.
She was laid on a perfian tajeftry, under a canopy of
cloth of gpicl, in a gallery from whence (he could fee
hnri return, lie was received by the hands that always
ieived him, and all the cats climed upon the gutter to
o.ongratulatehis return by a concert of mewing. * Well,

* prince, ((aid fhe to him) I fee you are come back

* with- ut yc-ur crown.' * Madam, (replied he) by

* your bounty I was in a condition of gaining it; but I

* am perfuaded the king is more loth to part with it
' than I am fond of having it.* No matrer for
' that (fsid Ihe) you muft neglect nothing to

* deferve i*,. I will aflilt yon on this occafion; and

* iince vcu rouil carry a beautiful damfel to your

* lather's court, I will look cut tor one, who lhall gsin

* you the prize: but in the interim, let us be merry*

* and divert ourfelves, J' have ordered a fea-fight be-

* fween ir..jy cats r.nd the moft terrible rats of the c-.un-

* try.

STORY OF THE WHITE CAT. 107

1 try. My cats perha ps may b;: h:i id fer, for they are afraid
* of .he water; however, th<-y will h.;ve advantage
' enough: we cannot expecfb it in every thing.' The
pnr.ce teturncd her thanks, and fa id federal very hand-
Ibme tilings on her conduct and prudence. After-
wards they went upon a terrafs which looked on to the
fen. The cats veifels conlifted of great pieces of cork,
on which they floated very commodioufly : and th':fe of
the rats of egg-fhells joined together. The fight was
very obftinate ; the rats threw ihemfeives into the water,
and fwam better than the cits, infomuch that they as
often conquered, as they were conquered ; when Mina-
grobis, the admiral of the cats, reduced ths rattifh race
to the utmoft. defpair, by eating up the admiral of
their fleet, who *.vas an old experienced rat, that had
made three voyages round the world in very good fhips,
in which he was neither captain nor factor, but only a
kind of interloper. But the White Cat was fo politic,
that fhe would not abfolutly deftroy thcfe poor unfor-
tunate rats, thinking that if there we.e no rats nor
mice, her fubjecls would live in an idleneis that might
become prejudicial to her.

The prince parted this year, as he had done the two
firft, in hunting, filhing, and fuch diverfions, and often
at a game of chefs, which the White Cat played extra-
ordinary well at ; but he could not forbear often quef-
tioning her, to know by what miracle ihe fpoke. H'e
afked her, if fhe was a fairy, or if by any/metamorphofifr
fhe was turned into a cat. But as the White Cat was
always capable of faying what fhe had a mind to, fhe
returned him an anfwer fo insignificant, that he per-
ceived fhe was not willing to communicate this fccrct
to him. As nothing pafTes away fo quick as happy
days, if the White Cat had not been fo careful as to
remember the time the prince was to return, 'tis cer-
tain he would have quite forgot it. She told him of
it the night before, and withal, that the hour of deftroy-
ing the fatal work of the fanes was come; and there-
fore he muft refolve to cut off her head and tail, and
throw them prefently into the fire. * What, (cried he)
E 6 « (hall

io8 STORY OF THE WH.TZ CAT.

' fhnll I my lovely \Vhife Cr<t, be fo barbarous as to,
1 kill YOU ? y.u have undoubtedly a mind to make t ro >i
r my heart, but be a (lured it is incapable of wanting
' that friendfhip and acknowledgment due to yo1-.'
' No prince, (continued me) I do not fufpedl you of
' ingratitude: I kn- w yourmerit; but neither ycu nor
* I can f re fcribe to fare : do what I defire you, we mail
' thereby be happy: and ycu fhail know upon the word
' of a cat cf worth and honcur, that I am really your
' friend.' Tears darted two or three times in the young
prince's evec;, to think he muft cut off the head cf his
pretty White Cat, that had been fo kind to him ; he
faid all that he could think moft tender to engage her
to difpenfe with him: to which fhe anfwered cbfti-
nately, (he would die by his hand, and that was the
only way to hinder his brother from having the crown.
In fhort, fhe preffed him fo earneftly, that he trem-
bling, with an unfteady hand, cut off her head and
tail, and t'irew them prefently into the fire, and at
the fame time hw the moft charming metamorphcfis
imaginable. The body of the White Cat grew prefently
large, and changed all on a- fudden to a fine lady, fa
accompiifhed, as exceeds defcription. Her eyes com-
mitted theft ttprn all hearts, and her fweetnefs kept
them; her (hape was majeftic, her air noble and mo-
deft, her wit flowing, her manners engaging; in a word,
fhe \v?s beyond every thin? that was lovely.

The prince, at the (u!ht of her, was in cf agreeable
2 fnrprife, thrt he thought himfelf enchantea. He
could not fpeak nor look at her, and his tongue was fo
tied, that he could not explain his amazement; which
was much sweater, when he faw an extraordinary num-
ber of gentlemen, and hdits, holding their crt-fkirs
over their (boulders, come and profirate 1 hrmfclves at
the queen's feet, to tt-ftify their j y to fee hrr again in
her natural ftr.te." She received them with a.l the
marks of bounty, which fufficiently difcovered the fweet-
nefs of her temper. After having fprnt fometime in
Iicarinj their compliments, (lie ordered them to retire,

and

Sro&v OF THE WHITE CAT. 107

3rul leave licr alone with the prince; to whom fhc
fpoke as follows.

* Think net, fir, that I have always b°en a cnt, and

* that my birth is obfcure. My fa 'her \v^s king of

* fix kingdoms, Icved my mother tenderly, and gave

* her liberty to do what (he plenfed. Her mod pre-

* vailing inclination was to travel, mfomirch that when.

* fhe vvns with child of ine, fhe undertook to go nnd fee

* a mountain, of which fhe had h:ar.i a moft furprii
( ing account. As fhe was on the road fhe was told

* there was, nigh the place fhe was then ?.t, an ancient

* cattle of fairies, which was the fineft in the world, or
4 at leaft faid to be fo; for as ni perfon was ever ad-

* mitted into it, there oould not be any pofitive
4 judgment pafied thereon: but for the gardens, they
' were known to contain the bed fruits that ever were
1 eat. The q-ieen-mv mother, who longed to tafte
1 them, went thither. But when fhe came to the gate
4 of this (htely edifice, which fhined again with blue,
4 enameled with gold; nobody came, though ihe knocked

* a long time; and her deiire increasing the more, by

* reafon of the difficulty, Ihe fent for ladders to fcaie

* the walls: but they growing vilibly to a great height

* of thernfelves, they were forced to fa Ren the ladders

* to one another, to lengthen them, and whenever any
4 one went up them, they broke under their weight ;

* fo that they were either killed or lamed. The queen
' was in ths utmoft defpiir to fee trees loaded with

* fuch delicious fruits, and n^t to tafle of them, which
' fhe was refolved to do, or die: infomuch that fhe

* ordered fome rich tents to be pitched before thecaftlr,

* and Raved there fix weeks, with all her court. She
1 neither fiept nor eat, but fighed continually, and was
' always talking of the fruit. In Ihon, fhe fell dan-
4 geroully ill, an:l no remedy couli be found our, for

* the inexorable fairies never appeared from the time
4 flie came there. All her court were very murh griev-
' ed: there was nought to be heard but fighs and la-
4 mentations, while the dying queen was continually
1 afking thofe that were in waiting upon her, for fruit;

but

no STORY OF THE WHITE CAT.

4 but would est of none but what came out of this gar-

* den.

* One Night, after having got a little fleep, when

* fhe awakened (he faw a little ugly decrepit cM \vo-
' m?n ii: in an elbow chair by her bolfter, ~-i\i was fur-

:1 that her women ih.)uld fu:Ter a (hanger fp

* near her, when the faid 10 her, • We think your ma-

* jefty very importunate to be fo ftubbborn in your

* delires of eating our fruits; but fince your life is in

* dr.n^er, my fillers and I have confented t-j give you
f as much as you can cany away, and to let you eat
4 of them as long as you ftay here, provided ycu will
' make us one prefent.' * Ah! my good m< ther,
' (cried the queen) name it, I will give you my king-
' doras, heart, and foul, to have feme of the fruit: I

* cannot buy it too dear.' ' We would have your

* majtfty (faid fhe) give us the daughter you now

* bear in your womb. As foon as fhe is born, we will

* come and fetch her ; fhe mail be brought up by us,
4 and we will endow her with all virtues, beauties, and

* fciences: in fhort, fhe mail be our child, and we will

* make her happy: but your nmjefty rnuft cbferve,

* that you iy.u{i never fee her any more till fhe is

* married. If you v.'iil agree to this proprfition, I
' will cure you immediately, and carry y,:u to cur
' orchard, where, notwithstanding it is night, yxu
' fhall fee well enough to chufe what y.u would

* have; but if what I fay difpleafes yrur majefiy,
' good-night.' * Though whr.t ycu impoie on me,
' (replied the queen) *is very hard, yet I accept it

* rather than die; for certainly, if I cannot live, my

* child muft be loft; therefore, fkilful fairy, (continued

* fhe) cure me, and let me not be a moment debarred
' of the privileges I am entitled to thereby.'

* The fairy touched her with a Tittle golden wand,

* faying, ' Your majefly is free from all illnefs.' And

* thsreup rr fhe ieemedas if fhe had thrown off a heavy

* garment that had been very troublefome and incom-
« modious to her. She ordered all the ladies ol her
« court to be called, and, v/ith a gay air, told them fhe

was

FTORY OF THE WHITE CAT. in

' was extraordinary well, and would rife, fince that tb:

* gates of the fairies palace, which were fo ftr'rjpgly bar-

* rocaded, were fet open for her to eat oj the fruir, and
' carry what fbe pleafedaway. The ladies thought the

* queen delirious, and fhe was then dreaming cf the

* iruit (Tie longed fo much for; infovriucnj, thru inOead

* cf returning any snfwer, they fell a-crying, nod
' called in the phyficians; which delays put the queen
1 into the utmoft defpair; fhe afked for her clothes, ar>d

* they refuting her them, put her into a violent palfion,

* which they looked upon as her fever. In the interim
, * the phyficians came, who, after having felt her pulfe,
' * and made their inquiries, could not deny but that fbe

' was in perfecl health. The ladies feeing the fault they
4 had committed through their great zer.l, endeavoured
' to repair it by drefling her quickly. 1 hey every one

* begged her pardon, which fhe granted, and hafienrd

* to follow the old fairy, who waited for her. She weut

* into the palace, where nothing was wanting to make

* it the fined in the world; which y;;u will the more
4 eafily be'ieve, iir, (added the new metamorphofed

* queen) when I mall tell you it was this we are now

* in. Two other fairies, not quite fo old as fhe that

* conducted my mother, received her favourably at the

* gate ; {he deiired them to carry her prefently into the

* garden, and to thofe trees that bore the beft fruits..
1 They told her they were all equally good, and that

* unlefs fhe would have the ple-afure of gathering them

* herfelf, they would call them too her. * I beg, (faid

* the queen) that I may have the fatisfaction of feeing
4 fo extraordinary an event.' \Vhei eupon the elder of
' the three put her fingers in her mouth, and blowed

* three times; and then cried, apricots, peaches, necta-
' vines, plumbs, cherries, pears, melons, grapes, apple?,

* oranges, lemons, goofeberries, currants, fhawberries,
1 rafberries, come all at my call.' * But, (faid the

* queen) theft: fruits are not all ripe in the fame feafcn.'

* Oh, (faid they) in our gardens we have all forts of
' tiuit always ripe and good, and they never dinriniih.*

• At

H2 STORY OF THE WHITE CAT.

* At the fame time they c^nie rolling *o them with-

* out any bruifes; and the qn?en, whr> -as impatient
' to fatisfy her Ic.ngine, ft I up n them, and took the
' firft that o&ered, whkh Jhe rather devcuied than ear.

* VVheti her appetite was foin^what ir.ti-fied fhc deuied
' the fairiei to let her go to the trees, and have the
4 pleaiu:e to gathei them herfelf: to which (hey gave

* their confent; but faid to her, at the f>me time, you
« nmft remember the prcmife you have mode us; for

* you will not be allowed t-, run back from it. * I
' am perfuaded, (replied (he) that it is fo pleafant

* living with you. and this f alace is fo charming, thnt

* if I did net love foe king my hufbar.d dearly, I wculd

* offer m * fir 1 f ; therefore you need net fear mv retracft-
' ing from my w. rd. The fairies, \vho were very well
' fatisfied, cpened the doors of their gardens and all
' their inclofures, and the queen flayed in them three

* days and nights, without ever ftirring cut, fo delici-

* ous (he found the'n. vxhe gathered fruit for her pro-

* vifion, and as they never wafted, loaded four hundred
1 mu'es (he brought along with her. The fairies added
' to their Iruit, ba fleets of gold of curious work, to carry

* them in, and many other very valuzbie rarities.
1 They prrmifed to educate and make me a complete
c prinref>, and to chufe me cut an huiband, and to

* inform rry mother of the wedding.

' The king was overjoyed at the queen's return,.

1 and all the court exprefled their plealure to fee her

* again; there was nothing but ba;is, mafquera: es,

* and ccurfes, where the fruits the queen brought,
4 ferved for delicious regales. The kingprefered them
4 before all other things, but knew not ihe bargain fhe
' had made with the Fairies: but often gfker! her what

* country (lie had been in, to bring home fuch go.d
4 things: to which fhe replied, fhe frund them on a
' mountain that was almoft inacceiTible ; foraetin.ts

* that fhe met with them in a valley, and fometimes in

* the midft of a garden or a great foreft: all which ccn-
4 tradtclions very much furprifed the king. He inquir-

* ed ol thofe that went with her; but they were all tor-

4 bid

STORY OF THL \\*HITK CAT, irg

1 bid to tell any thing of the matter. At length the
queen, uhen her time was at hand, began to be trou-
bled at wh;:t fhe had promised the fairies, and grew
very nseianch, ly ; (he lit;hed every minute, an 1
changed her countenance. The king was very much
concerned, and pi tiled ths queen to declare what w:.s
thecauie; who \vith i'^mc difficulty told hjfta whet
had paiied betwotn her and the fairies, and that fhe
hnd pionmei them the d-iughlcv fhe was then big wit!;.
Wi>;<' ! (<-'ird f!;'3 king) we have no children, ond
could yvu, who knc-w h-jw much I driired them, for
the caiing of twi> or three apples, premife your
daughtei ? certainly you nmft have no regard for me.*
and theieupon he loaded her with a thcufend re-
proaches, which made my poor mo: her almoil ready
to die for grief: but not content with this, he put her
ioto a tower, under a ilrung guard, where fhe could
have no converiati-jn but with the officers trut were
vppoinu-d to attend her. The ill correfpondence be*
tw-.en the king and queen, put the coint into the ut*
moft corifternation : they laid alide their rich clothes,
and put on fuch as vveje agree.1 bie to the general for-
1 row. The king appeared for his part inexorable, and
1 would not fee the queen ; but as focn as I was born,
made me be brought into tKe palace to be nurfed
-there, while my mother, at the fame time, remained a
prifoner, and in an ill ftate of health. The fairies, who
were not ignorant all this while of what was pafied,
and who looked upon me as their own property, were
fo prtvoked, that they refolved to have me ; but be-
; fore they had recouife to their art, they fent ambaf-
1 fadors to the kinr, to deiire him to fet the queen at
1 liberty, and to rcftore her to his favour again; and
liktwife to demand me, that I might be nurfed and
brought up by them. 1 he ambaifadois were fo little
and deformed, for they weie dwarfs, that the king,
infte'ud ef granting what they afked, refufed them
rudely, and if they had not got away quickly, might
have ferved them worfe.

• When

1:4 Erc.r-Y or THE WHITE' CAT.

4 When the fviilts -veie ink m:-:d of my fofrrr'a
1 proceedings, they \v-:re 1(. enva^cn, th.it ?iter tht y
1 h*rd feat «H the plague : ' rc-ndeiing his kine-

' dt;tns dei;!:.te, thev let Itfbfea terribte dragon thnt
1 poifontd nil the plan :ecame; devoured

1 men, women and children, -and h'iled all tiees and
1 plants with the breath cf his hdfi ils. The kin- find-

* ing himfelf reduced to this «tT*mity, conftilted all
1 th« faces of his kingdom to kn-.vv what he fhou;d do

* to prtJVrve l?w fubjccU ggninfl thefc njisfd::ur.r<5
1 wherewith they were ^ppreffed ; they advifed him to
1 fend for the bell phylici&ns, to prcfrribe the mud ex-

* cellent rcratdit*, as one ir.enr,s: and t) pfi-.ivi) :• i

* criminals that were condemned to die, if they w.-juid
1 fight with the dragcn, z$ the other. The kin?, v.'ha
1 was we'l enough pk-nfed with this advice, put it i=i
' execution, but received no benefit by it; f< v the mc.r-

* tulity continued, and none f&ueht with the d^.-n

* but were devoured : infomuch, that nt brt h^ h:d te-
'* courfe to a fairy, who had protected him from his
' youth, and who was fo old that fhe hardly ever rcfe
' from off her feat. He went to her, and repro?ched
' her for permitting his fate to perfecwte him in fuch a
' manner without giving him ibme afliftancc. « What
1 would you have rne do, (replied the fairy; you have
' provoked my fibers, who have equal power with me,
' and we feldom a (ft one againft ancther; therefore
' think of appealing them by giving your. d?.uehfcr,
' iince they have a right, to her; fet the queen z r

* ty, who is too good 2nd amiable to b^ ufed fo ill, a;;d

* refolve to fulfil what fhe had promifed and then IM

* alTure you, you fliall be Harry.'

4 The king my father loved me dearly: but fee-in 5

1 no other way to preferve his kingdoms, and to be de-

* livered from the fatal dragon, told his friend thatie

* would believe her, and \vouidgive the faries his dawfjfe-

* ter, (incefhe had afllired-him I mould be taken. care
1 of, 'and treated as became a princefs of my birth, ani
' re ' en fe the queen : and withal, deQred her to tellhmi
' how he mi^ht fend me to the fairy cattle. ' You muil

' carry

STORY OF THE WHITE CAT. 115

* carry her (faSd the fairy) in a cradle to the mounts m
' of flowers, and muft ftay thereabouts to fee what hap-

* pens/ The king told her (he might acquaint her iif-
' ters that he and the queen w. u!d go with me thither

* in eight days time, and that they might do with me

* vvhnt they thought proper.

' As i'oon as he came back to the palace* he fent for
4 the queen, with ns much love and tenders efs as h± had

* made her a prifoner with anger and pr;fiicn ; bit fhe

* was (b fa1 lea away and altered, that he could hardly
' know her, if he had not been ve»y certain (he was the
' pcrfon he once fo much doated on. He begeed of her,
4 with tears in his eyes, to forget the ill treatment (he

* had received from him, which he promifed her mould

* be the la (h She anfwered, that fhe had brought it on

* herlelf by her imprudence, in promiiing her chiid to

* the fairies; and that if any thing would plead her

* excufe, it was the condition me was then in. In fhort,

* he declared his defi-^n to her of putting me into their

* hands; which me oppofed; and it feemed as if it
4 was my fate to be always tfiecaufe of my father and

* mother's difagreeing: But after me had cried and

* taken-on for fome time, without obtaining what fhe

* delired, (for my father too well forefaw the fatal con-

* fequences, and his jubjedls ftill dying as if they had

* been guilty of our faults) fhe ccnfen'ed, and prepa-
4 rations were made againU the ceremony. I was put

* into a cradle of mbthfir o'pearl, adorned ss much as
4 poffible by art, with garlands of flowers, feftoons him '5*

* round about it, and the flovveis fo intermixed with
1 jewels of feveral colours, that when the fun refle&ed

* upon them, they gavefuch a luftre that dazzled the

* eyes. The magnificence of my drefs exceeded, if that

* was pomble, my cradle. All the bands and rolls of
' my fwaddling doaths were buckleo* with large pearls;
4 four-and-twenty princefTes of the blood carried me

* on a kind of light litter, all drefled in white, torefem-

* ble my innocence, and were followed by the whole
' court, according to their ranks. While they were
' going up the mountain, they heard a melodious fym-

' phony;

no STORY CF THE V.'IIITE CAT.

' phony? andafterwsuis fairies appeared to the miirr-
' ber of fix and-thiny, for the ihite had invited all
1 their- friends, each in & it el! ot pearl, as large as that
1 wheiein Venus arcie out tt lit 'c5, and drawn by
4 fc-3 hoifes, in as gre;.f. ;> -,mp as it thrv had been the

* fhft queens in the wond. They \vc;e eacc-edii ,;j oM
"' and ugly: They carried! in r heir bands olive bianche;.-,

* to ligniiy to the king, th.it bv hi;-, iubmiiTion he hed

* gainej their favour. VVhtn they tools me, it was with

* fuch extraordinary cai^ik., ;i.at it ktuied as if ihey
4 lived only to make ine happy.

1 The dragon, which uis ihe inil* tuncr.t t,f their
1 revenge againft nsy i'uthei, foliowtd il.cni bound in
1 chains cf diamonds. They ro:..k ine in fiicir a'n.s,
1 carrefled n>e a thtufand tinjes, endowed nsc v.j-U
' feveral gifts, and then fell to dancing; ynd it is i-l-

* moft incredible to believe how thele oM \vcu, en
4 jumped snd ikipped. Al?er\vjrdsthe cevcuiii,;j dis-
f gon came forwards, the three fairies, to uhoii) my

* mother promiied me, p. seed thetnleives upon him,

* and fet my cradle between them ; then (liikieg the

* dragcn wi;h a wand, he prefently difpjayed his large
f wings, which were as thin and fine ?.s iinufe, and in-

* tcrmixed with various colours, and carried them to
' their caflle. My mother feeing rne in the air upon

* this furious dragcn, ccu!d not forbear fhrieking out,

* while the king comforted her by the affurance his
4 friend had given him, that no ill accident fhculd be-

* fall me, and that 1 inould have as great care taken cf
4 me, as if I was in their own palace: Which aflurance
4 appeafed her, though ihe Wc-s very much grieved to

* lole me for fo long a time; eipecialiv when fhe ie-
' flecled that fhe herieir u;s the C'.i-ie of it. You rnuft
' know, prinee, (continued Ihe) tfmt my eiiaidi-irts

* built a tower or. purport- for me, wherein there un<u

* a thoifand beautiful apartments for all the fesfcns
' of the year, furnifhed with ma-Tnificent gccds, and

* agreeable books; but there \veie no d^ors, and t,-o
1 other coming in but at the windows, which were pro-

* di^ious hieh. It was lurrounded by beautiful eaidens,

* full

STORY OF THE WHITE CAT. 117

1 Full of flowers, and embellifhed with fountains and
' arbmrs of greens, vvheie it was cool and pleafant in
4 the hotted feafons. Here the fairies brought me up,
' and took more care of me thin ever they promifed
' the queen to do. My clonths v/ere fo fafhionable

* and Hne, thnt if any one had fcen me, th^y wculd

* have thought it had been my wedding-day. They

* taught me all that was proper £»r one of my a^e.
4 and birth to learn; and they had not much trouble
4 with me, for there was nothing but what I com-

* prehended with great eafe. They were very well

* pleifed at my re^dy difpodhon ; and if I hid ncv-r
4 feen any body befides them, 1 mould have been con-

* tented to have lived their all my li;e. T'hey cnme

* very often to fee me, mounted upon the fame dreadful

* dragon I have already fpoke of; they never men-
4 tioned the king or q-Ken to me, but called me t^eir

* daughter, and 1 thought myfelf really fo. No crei-
4 lure lived with rue in this tower, but a parrot and a

* little dog, which were endowed both with reafon and

* fp.'ech, and were given to divert me.

4 One (ide of the tower was built upon a hollrw
1 road, fet full of elms ?.nd other trees, which ftiaded
' it fo much, that 1 never faw any one p^ls by while

* I was there; when one day, as I was at the window,
4 talking to my parrot and dog, I heard a noifc, and

* looking ab >ut, perceived a young gentleman, who

* {lopped to hear our converfation. 1 had never feen

* orje before but in paintings, and was not forry that

* this accident had given me the opportunity; info

* much, that not miftrufting the dnnger we run in the

* fatisfaction we received by the fight of fo l;;ve*y an

* object, I looked at him again, and the more I looked,
' the more pleafed I was. He made me a low bow<

* fixed his eyes on me, and feemed concerned to know
'.. how to talk to me; for my windows being a great

* height, he was afraid of being heard, knowing that
4 it was a caftle which belonged to fairies. Night
4 came upon us all on a fudden, or, to fpeak more

* properly, befoie we perceived; he founded his horn

twice

u8 STORY OF THE WHITE CAT.

' twice or thrice, which he thought Lo ploafe me with,

* and then went away without ray difcovering which
' way he tock, it was fo dark. 1 remained thoughtful:

* the pleafure I ufed to take in talking to my parrot
' and dog, was no ways agreeable. '1 hey faid alJ the

* pretty things that could be to me, for thefe were

* very witty: but my thoughts were otherwise engaged,
« and I had not ait enough to diffemble. My parrot
' obferved all my actions ; but made no mention of

* what he thought. The next morning I arofe with the

* fun, and ran to my window, where I was moft agree-
' ably fuiprifed to fee my fpark, V7ho was d reflect mag-

* nificen'ily: in which I flattered myfelf I had fome

* mare, and was net miftaken. He fpoke to me

* through a fpeaking trumpet, told me he had been till

* that inftant infenfible to all the beauties he had be-

* held : but found himfelf fo fenfibly touched with me,
' that he could rut live without feeing me. I was
' mightily pleafed with his compliment, but vexed
' that I durft not make fome reply; for I mtift have
' bawled out with all my might, and run the rifque of
' being fooner heard by the fairies than him. I threw
' him fome flowers I had in my hand, which he took
4 for fo iignal a favour, that he kifled them feveral times,
' and thanked me. He aflced me afterwards, if I ap-
' proved of his coming every day at the fame hour
' under my window, and if I did, to throw fomething :
' whereupon I prefently pulled off a torquoife ring,
' that I had on my finger, and caft it at him, making
' a fign. for him to be gone prefently, becaufe I heard

* the fairy Violenta coming on the dragon to bring my
« breakfaft.

* The firft words (he fpoke, when fhe entered my
' chamber, were, ' I fmell the voice of a man ; a
' fearch, dragon.' Alas! what a condition was I in !
' I was ready to die with (ear, left he fhould find out,
*,and follow my lover. Indeed, (faid I) my good
' mamma, (for the fairy would be called fo) you ban-
' ter, when you fay you fmell the voice of a man :
' can any one fmell a voice? and fhould it be fo, what

' wietch

STORY OF THE WHITE CAT. 119

* wretch could be fo bold as to venture coming up into

* this tower? ' What you fay is very tiue, child,

* (fa id (he) I am overjoyed to hear you argue fo well :
' I fancy it is the hatred I have againft men, that
4 makes me think them nigh when they are not: how-
' ever, I have brought you your breakfaft and a diftafF;

* be fure fpin ; yefterday you did nothing, and my

* fitters are very angry.' (Upon my word 1 was fo
4 taken up with this fh anger, that i was not .abie to,
4 work.) As foon as her back was turned, I threw away

* my diftafF, and went upon the terrafs, to look as far
' as my eye would carry, in an excellent fpying-glaf^
4 I had; by which, after having looked about fome

* time, I difcoveied my lover under a rich pavillioa
4 of cloth of gold on the top of a hi.gh mountain, fur-.
' rounded by. a numerous court. I doubted not but
4 that he w"s fvne neighbouring king's fon, and was
4 nf:nid, left, \\hvn he cnme to the tower again, he
4 mould be found out bv the terrible dragon. I went
4 and fetched my parrot, and bid him fly to that moun-.
4 ;a;n, to defile him, from me, not to come again,
4 bccaufel wr.s afraid mv guardkn fhould difcover it,

* and he iliould come into dancer. My parrot acquit-.
4 ted himleifof his commiflion, and furprifed all the
4 Courtiers, to fee him come upon full wing, and perch
4 upon the prince's fhoulder, and whifper him foftly
4 in the ear. The prince was both overjoyed and
4 troubled at this meiTage ; my care flattered his paffion .
4 but the difficulty there was in fpeaking to me, gave

* him as much chagrin. He afked the parrot a thou-

* fand queftkms, and the parrot him as many; for he
4 was naturally inquilitjve. The prince in return
4 for my torquoife, fent me a ring of another, but
' much finer than mine, cut in the fbape of a heart,
4 and fet round with diamonds; and told him (that
4 he might treat him more like an ambaffador) he
4 would prefent him with his piclure, which he might
4 (hew to his charming miftrefs. The picture was tied
' under his wings, and the ring he brought in his bill.

• I waited

120 Sl'O^V 01 TF!L \VjiiTE CAT.

' 1 waited for the return of my green courtier, wit'i

* an impatience unknown to me till then. He told
' me the perfon I fcnt him to was a great king, v,h )
1 had received him with a-1 the joy pofTiblc; and

* tint I might a flu re myfelf he lived only for me, nnd

* that though it was very dangerous for him to come
' fo low as my tower, yet he was refolved to hn/ard
' all to fee me. This news had fuch an effect upon

* me, tint I fell a-cryir.g. My parrot and dog com-
4 forted me the bed they c.-.uld, for they loved me ten-
4 de-ily ; and then' the parrot delivered the prince's ring
' to me, and {hewed me his piclure. I mud uwn I was
' overjoyed that I coukl view fo nigh a perfon I had
' never feen but at a diftance. He appeared much
' more lovely than he fceme-!, and the different
1 thoughts this fight infpired me with, for f me were

* agreenb'e to me, and others not, mide me ve y tin-

* eofy, which the fairies, when they come to fee me,
' difcovered. They faid to one another, that I was cer-
' taiTjIy troubled at fomething, and that they rr.uft

* think of providing a hnfbnnd for me of the {airy race.
' Thtyramed feveral, but at laft pitched on the little
' king M-gonnet, wlufc kingdom layabout five hundred

* leagues off from their pahc^, but that ws of nj gieat

* importance. My pam t heard all their difcourfr,
' and came to give an account. ' Ahs! my dearmif-

* tiefs, (faid my bird) how much I p'ty you, if you
' fhc.'uld be king Migonnet's queen! he is enough to

* f'ight you, which 1 am forry to tell you; but one
' thing I am fure cf, the king who loves you, fcorns to
' have fuch a one f:r his foot boy : and I think, (continu-
' ed he) if 1 am not murh mi (taken, I have perched upon
'the fame bow with him.' H?w do you me?n, (repli-

* ed I) on the fame bow? ' Why, (laid he) he has
' feet like an engle.' 1 was very much afflicted at this

* account, Hooked on the charming piflure cf the ycung
4 kin?, and fancied he only gave it my parrot, that I
4 might have an opportunity cf feeing it, but when I
4 compared it with Migonnet, I loft all h^pes of life,
4 and icfoived to die fooner than marry him. I llept

* not all night, but talked with my panot and dog, and

4 towards

STORY OF THE WHITE CAT. 121

* towards morning began to clofe my eyes. My dog,

* who had a good nofe, fmelt the king at the foot of

* the tower: he awakened the parrot, and faid to him,
4 I'll engage the king is below.' To xvhich the parrot

* made anfwer, * Hold thy tongue, thou prating fool;
' becaufe thy eyes and ears are always open, you are
4 vexed that any body elfe mould have reft.' * Well,

* faid the dog,) I am fure he is. * And, (replied the
4 parrot) I am fure he is not: for I have, from my
4 miftref-, forbid him coming.' 4 You talk finely of
4 your forbidding him; (cried the dog) a man in love
4 confults nothing but his paflions.' Thereupon, pul-
4 ling the parrot by the tale, he made fuch a noife that
4 I awoke. They told me of their difpute, I ran or
4 rather flew to the window, whence I faw the king hold-
4 ing out his arms, who, by his trumpet, told me he
4 could not live without me; that he poflefled a
4 fiouvifhing kingdom, and conjured me to find out
1 fome way to efcape from my tower, or let him come
4 tome; calling heaven and all the elements to witnefs,

* that he would marry me, and make me his queen.

* I bid my parrot go and tell him, that what he de-
4 fired feetntd almcft impoilible; that, however, upon
4 the word he had given, and oaths he had fworn to me,
4 I would endeavour to accomplifh his defires: but
' withal, to conjure him not to come every day, left he
4 fhould be clifcovered, which might prove fatal to us
4 both.

1 He went away, overjoyed with the flattering hopes

* I gave him. I found rnyfelf in the utmoft confufion,
4 when I reflected on what I had promifed. I knew
4 not how one fo young, timorous, and unexperienced,
4 fhould get cut of a tower, to which there were no
4 doors, with the afliftance only of a dog and a parror,
4 therefore I refolvcd not to attempt a thing in which

* I could never fucceed, and fo fent my parrot to ac-
4 quaint the king with it; who was for killing himfelf that
4 minute; but at laft charged the parr, t ro paTi-ade
4 me to it, and to come and fee him die, or to bring
' him fome comfort. To which my winged ambat

F fador

122 STORY OF THE WHITE CAT.

4 fador anfwered, that he was very well perfosded his

* mifhefs only wanted the power. When he gave me

* an account of what had happened, I was more grieved

* than ever. The fairy Violenta came, and found
4 my ey<s fwelled and red; fhe told me 1 had been

* crying, and if I did not tell her the reafcn, fhe would

* burn me. I anfwered, tremb'ing, I was weary with

* fpining, and that I had a great defire to make fome

* nets to ca^tch fome bnds, that deftroyed the
4 fruit in the garden. ' What you defire, child
4 (faid fhe) fhall coft yon no more tears, I will bring

* ycu materials enough to-night; but I would rather

* you thought lefs of working, and more of fetting of?

* ycur beauty, becaufe king Migonnet will be hear in
4 a few days.' I fighed at this, news, but made no re-
1 ply; but as foon as her back was turned, began two

* or three rows cf my ne^s, and afterwards applied my-
' felf to the making a ladder of ropes. But as the fairy
' had not furnifhed me with as much as I warned,

* which obliged me to nfk for more, fhe told me my

* woik was like Penelrpe's web, it went not forwards,
4 and yet I teafcd her for more fluff. O good mamma !

* (faid I) you may fny what you pleafe; but you muft
' know that PS I am not vjery' ready at this work, ] burn
1 it when it does not picnic me. With which excufe
' fhe feemed fatisfied, and left me.

» I fent my parrot that night to bid the king come

* under my windcw, where he would find a ladder,

* and to tell him he frould know more when he came;

* in (hrrt, I had tied it very faft, and was determined
' to efcspe with him by this means; bat he, as foon as

* he faw it, without waiting for my coming down,
*- mounted op in hafte, and threw himfelf into my
4 chamber, as I was making things ready for my flight.
4 I was fo overjoyed to fee him» that I forgot the danger
4 we were in.. He renewed all his oaths, and entreated
i me to defer his happinefs no longer: we made my
4 parrot and dog thti witnefles of our marriage, which

* \vas thernoft private in the world for perfons cf cur
4 rank, and none certainly were ever better fatisfied.

Th«
r' 2-

STORY OF THE WHITE CAT. isg

r The king left me before day : I told him of the fairies
'" defign to marry me to Migonnet, and gave him a
'. defciiption of his mean r.nd fony figure, for which his
' horror was as great as mine. As fcon as the king

* was g ne, the hours fet-med like years; 1 rcn to the
' window, and followed him with my eyes, notvvith-
' {landing the darknefs; but how great was my furprife

* to fee a fiery chariot drawn in the air, by lix winged

* falamanders, who flew fo fwift, that the eye was not

* able to follow them. This chariot was attended

* by a great many guards, all mounted on oftriches.
' I did not give myfelf time to think that it was Mi*

* gonnet that was thus travelling the air, but I believed
4 it was a fairy, or inchanter. Soon after, the fairy
' Violenta came into my chamber, and told n;e fhe

* brought me good news, that my lover would be with

* me prefently, and bid me prepare myfelf to receive

* him: and with thatga\e me fine clothes and jewel. s
' But pray, (laid 1) who has informed you that I 'want

* to be married? 1 am fure it is the fartheft from my
4 thoughts; therefore fend king Migounet back again:

* for I will not put in one pin more, whether he thinks'
'• me handfome or not? I am not for him. * Oh! oh!"
'• (faid the fairy again) little rebel, little empty-pate,

* I fhall not mind your raillery, but I mall • *

* What will ycu do? (teplied I, enraged at the names

* fhe had called me) can any one be worfe ferved than
*~ I am, to live all my days immured with a parrot and
*~ a dog, and to be viiited conftantly by that frightful
' dragon? ' Ha! ingrate! (faid the fairy) is this all
' we deferve for our care and pains; I have told my
' lifters but too often, we mould have but forry recom-

* penfe.' At this fhe went away, and told them of our

* difference, which put them into no little amazement.

* My parrot and dog remonftrated to me, that if I
•• fhould continue any longer thus fturdy, they forefaw'

* that I fhould undergo fome misfortune. But f was
' fo proud of pofleffing the heart of a kin-?, that I def-

* piled both the fairies, and the advice of thofe my
4 little companions. 1 would not drefs me; but ftrove

F 2 • all

124 STORY OF THE WHITE CAT.

* all I could to tumble my head-drefs, that I might ap-

* pear lefs agreeable to Migonnet. We had an inter-

* view upon the terra fs, he came in his fiery chariot ;

* but of all dwarfs, he was the leaft I ever faw in my
1 life. His feet were like an eagle's, and clofe to his
4 knees, for legs he had none. His royal garment was

* not above half a yard long, and trailed one third part
4 upon the ground. His head was as big as a peck, and
' his nofe long enough for twelve birds to perch on it,
' and be regailed at the fame time with a delightful bum,
4 for his beard was large enough for canary birds to
1 build their nefts in: and for his ears, they reached

* a foot above his head, but were a great part hid by a
4 high crown that he wore to appear more grand. The
1 flame of his chariot coddled the fruit, withered the
' flowers, and dried up the fountains of the gardens.
4 He came with open arms to embrace me, and I ftood

* upright, which obliged his firft 'fquire to hold him up.

* As foon as he came near to me, I ran to my chamber,
1 and fattened my window: fo that Migonnet enraged,
4 was forced to retire to the fairies, who allied a thou-
4 fand pardons for the affront; and to appeafe him be-
4 caufe he was powerful, they refolved to bring him at
4 night into my chamber, and while I was afleep, to
' tie my hands and feet, and put me into his chariot.
4 Things being thus agreed on, they only chided me for
4 what I had done, and charged me to think of making
4 him amends for the future. Which mildnefs of theirs
' furprifed my parrot and dog, who told me their hearts
4 mifgave them, for they knew the fairies to be ftrange
4 ill-tempered fort of old ladies, and efpecially Violenta.

* I laughed at their fears, and waited with the utmoft
4 impatience for my dear hufband, whofe defires to fee
' me again were no lefs violent : 1 threw out the ladder

* of ropes, refolving to efcape with him, he came foftly
4 up it, and faid a thoufand kind things, which 1 daie
4 not recall to ray remembrance.

4 While we were talking to gethcr, with the fame fran-
4 quillity as if it had been in his own palace, he faw all
4 on a fudden the windows broke open, and the fairies

4 enter

STORY o ? THE WHITE CAT. 125

* enter upon their frightful dragon, followed by Migon-

* net in his fiery chariot, and all his guards on oftriches.

* The king, without any difmay, clapped his hand on

* his fword, and thought if fecuring and protecting me;

* when thefe barbarous creatures fet their dragon upon

* him, which devoured him before my face. Vexed,

* and in defpair, I threw myfelf into the mouth of this
' dreadful mcnfter, that he might fwallc w me as he had

* done the prince, who was dearer to me than all the

* world belules. And I had certainly undergone the fame

* fate; but the fairies, who were more cruel than the

* monfter, would not permit it, but faid, I muft be
' referved for greater punishments; a quick death was

* too mild a one for fo bafe a creature: whereupon

* touching me, I found myfelf changed into a WhiteCat.

* They conducted me to this (lately palace, which be-

* longed to my father, and turned all the lords and

* ladies into cats; and for the reft of his jubjecls, left
' of them only the hands, which we fee, and reduced

* me to that miferable condition you found me: let-
' ting me know at the fame time my birth, the death of
' my father and mother, and that I never fhould be re-

* leafed from this rnetamorphofis, but by a prince that
' perfectly refembled my hufbind, who they deprived me
' of. You fir, have that refemblance, the fame features,

* air and voice: I was ftruck as foon as I faw you, and

* was informed of all that mould .happen, and am ftill

* of all that (hall come to pafs: my pains will be at an
' end.' ' And {hall mine, fair queen, (faid the prince)

* be -of long duration?' * I love you, fir, already more

* than my life, (faid the queen) we muft go to your

* father and know his fentiinents for me, and whether
' he will confent to what you delire.' After this fhe
went out, the prince handed her into a chariot, which
was much more magnificent than that fhe had, and
then went into it himfelf. All the reft of the equipage
anfwered it fo well, that the buckles of the horfes har-
neffes were diamonds and emeralds. I fliall fay no-
thing of their converfation, which muft be very polite,

fince

126 STO*Y OF THE WHITE CAT.

free flie was not only 3 great beauty, but alfo a great'
wit ; and for the j rince, he was no ways inferior to her
therein: fo that ail their thoughts weie bright and
lively.

When they came nigh the caftle where the brothers
were to meet, the queen went into a cage of cryftal fet
in gold, which had curtains drawn abcui it, that fhe
might not be feen, and was carried by handfome ycung
men richiy clothed. The prince ftaid in the chariot,
and faw his brothers walking with two princefTes of extra-
ordinary beauty. As foon as they knew him, they came
to receive him, and afked him if he had brought a mif-
trefs along with him; to which he anfwered, that he
had been fo unfortunate in all his journey, to meet
with none, but what were very ugly; but that he had
brought a pretty White Cat. * A cat, (faid they,
' laughing) what was you afraid that mice mould de-
' vour our palace?' The prince replied, that he was
not very wife in making fuch a prefent to his iather,
but it was the greateft rarity he could meet with. After-
wards they all bent their courfe towards the capital
town. The two elder princes and the princefles went
in calafhes of blue emboffed with gold, with plumes of
white feathers upon/the horfes heads; nothing was finer
than this cavalcade. The younger prince followed after,
and then the cage of cryftal, which every body admired.
The courtiers crowded to tell the king that the princes
were arrived, and brought moft beautiful ladies along
with them ; which news wrs noways pleating to the
king. Thetwoeldeft princes were very earneftto fhew
him the beauties they had brought, whom he received
kindly, but knew not in whofe favour to decide; when
looking on the youngeft, ' What (faid he) are you

* come by yourfelf?' ' Your majefty, (replied the
« prince) will find in this cage a pretty little cat, which
' mews and plays fo fweetly, that you will be very well

* pleafed with her.' Here at, the king fmiled, and.
was going to open the cage; but as foon as he ap-
proached to wards it, the queen with a fpring broke it
in pieces^ and appeared like the fun when it breaks fourth

from

STORY OF THE WHITE CAT. 127

ffcm a cloud. Her fine hair was fpread upon her
(boulders, and laid in fine larre rings, and her forehead
was adorned with flcwers. Her gown was a thin white
gaufe, lined with a role coloured taffety. She made
the king a low courtefy, who in the. exrefs.ot his admi-
ration could not forbear crying out, * This is the in»

* comparable fairy who deierves rny crown.' * Sir,
4 (faid fhe) I came net to rob ycxt of your crown, which

* you wear fo worthily r I was born heirefs to fix king-

* dcms, give me leave to prefent one of them to ycur

* and ore to either of your fans, for which I aflc no other
' return but your friendfhip, and this young prince in

4 marriage: three kingdoms will be enough for us.*"
The king and all the court were net able to exprefe

* their joy and amazement. The marriages of th£
three princes and their princefTes were celebrated at
the fame time, and the court fpent feveral months in
plea fu res and diveifions; after which they all went to
their dominions, and the White Cat gained as great
honour by her bounty and generofity, as by her rare
merrit and beauty.

FINIS.

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